UC-NRLF 


3DD 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


A  PLAY  IN  THREE  ACTS  BASED  ON 
THE  LOVE  ROMANCE  OF  MARGARET 
WOFFINGTON  AND  DAVID  GARRICK 


BY 

J.  R.  CRAWFORD 


NEW  HAVEN: 

YALE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

MCMXI 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


THE  SCENES 

ACT      I.     The  Green   Room,   Covent  Garden 
Theatre,  October,  1741. 

ACT    II.     The  House  in  Southampton  Street, 
November,  1742. 

ACT  III.     The  Stag-e  of  Covent  Garden  Thea 
tre,  some  months  later. 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS 


Peg  Woffington,  leading  actress  of  Covent  Gar 
den  Theatre. 

David  Garrick,  a  wine-merchant,  and  afterwards 
actor  manager  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre. 

Sir  Charles  Hanbury  Williams,  a  man  of  fash 
ion. 

John  Rich,  manager  of  Covent  Garden  Theatre. 

James  Quin,  an  actor  of  the  old  school. 

Charles  Macklin,  an  actor  and  friend  of  Garrick. 

Tate  Wilkinson,  an  applicant  for  a  position  on 
the  stage. 

George  Anne  Bellamy,  of  Covent  Garden 
Theatre. 

Dr.  Samuel  Johnson. 

Pompey,  servant  to  Mrs.  Woffington. 

Hodgson,  Garrick's  butler. 

A  Servant  at  Covent  Garden. 

A  Scene-shifter. 

First  Gallant. 

Second  Gallant. 

Third  Gallant. 

A  Call-boy. 

Gallants,  men  of  fashion,  members  of  the  audi 
ence,  stage  hands,  etc. 


[4] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 

ACT  I 

SCENE:  The  Green  Room  at  Covent  Garden 
Theatre,  October,  1741.  A  large  room,  rather 
plainly  furnished.  There  are  three  doors,  two 
on  the  right  and  one  on  the  left.  Center,  a 
fireplace  and  over  it  a  portrait  of  Betterton. 
A  bust  of  Shakespeare,  a  large  oak  cabinet,  a 
plain  table  and  a  few  chairs  complete  the  fur 
nishings.  The  room  is  lighted  by  candles. 
It  is  the  night  of  a  performance  of  Farquhar's 
''Constant  Couple,"  in  which  Peg  Woffington 
is  playing  the  part  of  Sir  Harry  Wildair. 
Discovered:  James  Quin,  a  portly  actor  of  the 
old  school,  and  Miss  George  Anne  Bellamy. 
Quin  is  a  gruff,  surly  man,  thickset  and  heavy, 
inclined  to  be  taciturn  but  with  sudden  flashes 
of  "Saturnine  humor."  George  Anne  Bel 
lamy  is  a  beautiful  young  actress  with  blue 
child-like  eyes  and  golden  hair.  She  is  vain, 
self-conscious  and  affected.  The  adoration 
and  flattery  which  her  beauty  has  always  met 
with  has  made  her  a  spoiled  child.  Quin  is 
pacing  angrily  up  and  down  the  room  while 
Miss  Bellamy  is  trying  the  effect  of  various 
feathers  and  trinkets  in  her  hair.  She  poses 
continually  before  a  large  mirror. 

[5] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 

And  I  tell  you  again  the  town  is  mad!  They 
have  no  eyes  for  me  when  Peg  Woffington  is 
on  the  stage!  No  more  applause  for  James 
Quin  than  if  I  were  a  puppet ! 

Bellamy 
Her  impertinence  amuses  the  vulgar  taste. 

Quin 

Why,  hark'ee,  Mrs.  Bellamy, — I  knew  Peg  Wof 
fington  when  she  peddled  oranges  in  the 
streets  of  Dublin — aye,  and  went  barefoot, 
too!  Now,  egad,  not  content  with  acting  like 
a  woman,  she  must  needs  act  like  a  man !  Sir 
Harry  Wildair!  What  can  an  Irish  orange 
wench  know  about  acting  Sir  Harry  Wildair? 

Bellamy 

It's  vastly  indelicate  to  wear  breeches  and  play 
men's  parts. 

Quin 

The  impudent  Irish-faced  hussy!  Ah,  Mrs. 
Bellamy,  you  should  have  seen  Wilks  play  Sir 
Harry.  There  was  a  man!  None  of  your 
damned  mincing  gait  and  squeaking  pipe  when 
he  played  it! 

Bellamy 
[Yawning.] 

It  must  have  been  prodigious. — Er,  Mr.  Quin? 
[6] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Quin 
Well?    What  is  it?    What  is  it? 

Bellamy 

Who  was  the  handsome  young  gallant  in  the 
wings  who  tried  to  seize  me  as  I  came  off 
tonight  ? 

Quin 

Bah !  D'ye  think  I've  nothing  better  to  do  than 
note  every  coxcomb  that  smirks  in  a  woman's 
face? 

Bellamy 

Dear  Mr.  Quin!  He  said  that  your  acting  was 
the  marvel  of  the  age. 

Quin 

He  did,  eh?  Pooh — there  are  no  critics  left — 
they  are  all  dead.  In  my  day — 

Bellamy 
And  he  praised  your  grand  pause. 

Quin 

Come,  he's  a  young  fellow  of  taste.  Could  it  be 
Sir  Charles? 

Bellamy 
Sir  Charles? 

Quin 

Aye,  Sir  Charles  Hanbury  Williams — the  wit 
and  man  of  fashion  he  calls  himself.  He  is 

m 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


dangling  after  Woffington  and  has  been  these 
six  months. 

Bellamy 

Dangling  after  the  Woffington  woman — oh! 
Quin 

What  did  he  say  about  my  grand  pause?  Some 
clever  epigram,  I  warrant  you. 

Bellamy 
Oh,  nothing. 

Quin 

What!    Nothing!    Why,  you  said — 

Bellamy 

I  know — it  was  of  no  moment. 
Quin 

Madam,  I  tell  you  it  was  of  the  greatest  possible 
moment.  The  approbation  of  Sir  Charles 
carries  with  it  the  approval  of  the  Town. 
What  he  says  today— the  Bedford  Coffee 
House  thinks  tomorrow ! 

Bellamy 

I'll  endeavor  to  recollect  what  it  was.  I  know — 
your  pause  was  marked  by  a  dignity  of  bearing 
that — er — er — 

Quin 

Pray  continue,  Madam. 

[8] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Bellamy 

That  imparted  majesty  to  the  scene.  It  was 
something  like  that. 

Quin 

I  shall  treasure  those  words.  Only  two  weeks 
ago  I  knocked  the  prompter  down,  madam, 
for  interrupting  my  grand  pause. 

Bellamy 
Oh! 

Quin 

Yes,  madam,  knocked  him  down.  When  I  came 
to  the  great  scene  of  the  play — I  paused  to 
permit  the  effect  to  sink  in.  Then  what  does 
this  confounded  puppy  of  a  prompter  do,  but 
commence  bellowing  my  lines  to  me  from  the 
wings.  I  paid  no  attention  at  first. 

Bellamy 
Of  course  not. 

Quin 

Finally,  madam,  he  fairly  shouted  at  me  and 
some  jackanapes  in  the  pit  laughed.  I  strode 
up  to  him  and  knocked  him  down  and  then 
returned  and  finished  the  scene — after  apolo 
gizing  to  the  pit  for  the  interruption. 

Bellamy 
Serve  him  right. 

[9] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 

But  what  do  these  puppets  know  of  acting  to 
day?  In  my  day  we  understood  the  dignity 
that  goes  with  such  an  art. 

[Going  up  to  Bellamy  and  taking  her  chin  in 
his  hand.] 

You  are  young,  child,  and  have  a  pretty  face — 
don't  let  that  spoil  you  as  it  has  the  Woffington 
woman.  Learn  to  be  an  actress.  It's  worth 
more  than  the  poems  the  fine  gentlemen  in  the 
boxes  write  you. 

[Enter  John  Rich,  the  manager,  carrying  a  cat. 
He  is  dressed  shabbily  and  has  a  coarse 
face.  His  accent  is  that  of  an  uneducated 
man.] 

Rich 

There  y'are.  Two  hundred  pounds  in  the  house 
tonight, — it's  the  Woffington  woman  draws  the 
town.  And  I  larned  her  to  act  myself. 

Quin 

Acting!  Do  you  suppose  it's  acting  the  town 
comes  to  see?  A  pretty  woman  is  all  they 
want.  Do  they  come  to  see  me  any  more — me, 
James  Quin  ?  I  can  act  as  Betterton  acted  and 
there's  not  another  man  alive  today  can  say 
that.  And  they  laughed  at  my  grand  pause ! 
[10] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Rich 

You  lack  distinction,  Muster  Quin.  You  should 
imitate  my  Richard  III. 

Quin 
Bah! 

Bellamy 

I  am  convinced,  Mr.  Rich,  that  if  you  would 
display  your  talents  once  more  before  the 
town,  we  should  all  be  censured  for  our  short 
comings.  Compared  to  you,  our  acting  must 
seem  presumptuous. 

Rich 

Mrs.  Bellamy — you're  a  prodigious  fine  woman, 
and,  egad,  for  a  female,  you've  good  taste. 
[She  curtsies  to  the  ground  with  great  for 
mality  and  Rich  attempts  a  clumsy  bow  in 

return.] 

Quin 
Pish !  The  minx  is  only  laughing  at  you,  Rich. 

Bellamy 
Nay,  I  protest! 

Rich 

[His  face   changes — suspiciously.] 
I'll  larn  you  to  laugh  at  me,  you  French  doll, — 
or  you  too,  Quin. 

[11] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Bellamy 
I  vow,  Mr.  Rich,  that  I  spoke  in  earnest. 

Rich 
Well— well. 

[Enter  a  servant  from  the  door  R.] 

Servant 
[To  Rich.] 
A  young  man  to  see  you,  sir. 

Rich 
To  see  me?    Tell  him  to  go  to  the  devil! 

Servant 
Yes,  sir. 

Rich 
Another  scribbler — eh! 

Servant 
He  did  not  state  his  business,  sir. 

Rich 

[To  Quin.~\ 
I'll  warrant  you  it's  a  playwright, — curse  'em! 

Quin 

And  I'll  wager  it's  a  young  spark  to  carry  off 
Mrs.  Bellamy  here! 

Rich 

[To  the  servant.] 
What's  his  name?    Eh? 

[12] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Servant 
Garrick,  sir — David  Garrick. 

Rich 

[Laughs.] 
Egad — it's  the  little  wine-merchant! 

Quin 

Aye,  I  hear  he's  turned  strolling  player — he's 
been  at  Ipswich  this  summer — 'faith,  Rich, 
when  the  wine-merchants  turn  players, — 
there's  naught  left  for  us  poor  players  to  do 
but  drink  ourselves  to  death ! 

Rich 

[To  the  servant.] 

Tell  Muster  David  Garrick  I'm  not  wanting  any 
port  today.  Eh,  Quin  ? 

[Rich  laughs  uproariously  as  the  servant  bows 
and  goes  out.] 

Quin 

The  fool  was  sitting  in  the  stage-box  again  to 
night.  He's  another  fly  buzzing  after  Wof- 
fington. 

Bellamy 

But  his  eyes!  Have  you  marked  Mr.  Garrick's 
eyes?  They  are  like  fire! 

Rich 

You  have  marked  his  eyes,  have  you,  eh?  What 
the  devil  have  his  eyes  got  to  do  with  you  ? 
[13] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 
[Chuckles.] 

That's  the  woman!  'Cod,  to  think  they  note  the 
eyes  of  every  mortal  in  the  pit! 

Bellamy 
[Angry.] 

Mr.  Garrick  has  sat  every  night  in  the  same  box 
since  the  season  opened.  Is  it  so  strange  that 
I  have  seen  him  ? 

Quin 

No,  but  it  is  that  he  has  not  seen  you !    His  eyes, 
I  hear,  are  all  for  Mrs.  Woffington. 
[Bellamy  tosses  her  head.] 

Aye,  you  may  quarrel  for  him  between  you, — 
he's  a  fine  catch,  what  with  his  three  quarts  of 
vinegar  and  calling  himself  a  wine-merchant, 
and  his  strolling  acting.  Much  good  will  you 
get  of  him. 

Bellamy 

Brute!  You  judge  women's  minds,  Mr.  Quin, 
by  your  own. 

Quin 

Aye,  and  it  has  not  led  me  into  many  errors, 
either. 

[The  servant  re-enters  from   the  right,  and 
comes  forward.] 

[14] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Servant. 

Mr.  David  Garrick,  sir,  presents  his  compli 
ments  and  begs  that  you  will  grant  him  a  brief 
interview.  He  wishes  to  become  a  member  of 
the  company  at  Covent  Garden. 

Rich 

He  does,  eh  ?  Then  let  him  larn  to  act.  Covent 
Garden  Theatre  has  no  need  for  wine-mer 
chants  or  strolling  players.  Tell  him  to  go 
home  and  drown  himself  in  his  own  tun  of 
wine. 

[Laughs  boisterously.     The  servant  bows  and 
goes  out  of  the  door  R.] 

Rich 

What  would  become  of  my  theatre  if  I  wasted 
my  time  on  every  coxcomb  who  thought  he 
could  act?  Egad,  'tis  trouble  enough  with 
those  I  have  without  adding  to  my  stock.  Eh  ? 
[Enter  the  call-boy  from  the  door  L.] 

Call-boy 
Mr.  Quin!    First  call  for  the  epilogue. 

Quin 

[Going  towards  door.] 

Anon !    Must  you  make  such  a  devil's  own  row  ? 
Do  you  think  I  am  deaf  ? 
[15] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[Goes  out  with  call-boy,  pinching  the  latter' s 
ear.] 

Bellamy 

Dear  Mr.  Rich!  Are  you  going  to  give  me  a 
nice  part  in  the  new  play?  A  very  nice  part? 

Rich 

Aye,  'twill  be  good  enough,  I  daresay. 
Bellamy 

Good  enough!  Why,  that's  not  half  good 
enough!  I  want  a  very  big  part, — dear  Mr. 
Rich, — and  you  shall  teach  me  how  to  act  it 
as  it  should  be  acted ! 

Rich 
Girl,  you're  laughing  at  me! 

Bellamy 

[With  extreme  affectation."} 
No,  I  am  not,  dear  Mr.  Rich.     Would  you  ac 
cuse  me  of  wearing  the  hypocrite's  mask  ? 

Rich 

I  am  not  a  man  to  be  wheedled  by  a  pretty  face. 
Bellamy 

But  surely  you  must  be  sensible  that,  if  I  have  a 
pretty  face,  as  you  say,  the  public  will  prefer 
it  to  one  growing  a  little — shall  we  say — 
faded? 

[16] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Rich 

Woffington  has  only  been  here  a  year, — she  has 
only  begun  to  profit  by  my  lessons. 

Bellamy 

True.  But  does  she  ever  allow  you  to  be  the 
cause  of  whatever  merit  she  may  possess? 
Does  she  show  her  gratitude  to  one  who  has 
been  almost  more  than  a  father  to  her? 

Rich 

Aye,  there's  something  in  that.  I  heard  them 
say  at  the  Bedford  Coffee  House  that  Mrs. 
Wofrmgton  called  me  the  Harlequin  of  cats — 

Bellamy 

There's  gratitude  for  you!  I've  heard — but  I 
won't  talk  scandalous  gossip ! 

Rich 
What  is  it  you  heard? 

Bellamy 
Nay,  I  protest!     I  fear  it  would  give  offence — 

Rich 

You  must  tell  me,  madam!  I  won't  submit  to 
this  plotting  and  scheming  behind  my  back.  I 
took  that  Irish  wench  out  of  a  Dublin  gutter 
and  larned  her  to  act  and  gave  her  nine  pound 
a  week  to  boot — and  now  she  turns  on  me, 
sharper  than  a  thankless  tooth. 
[17] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Bellamy 

I  dreaded  to  make  you  angry  by  repeating  it. 
But  as  there  is  nothing  so  base  as  ingratitude, 
so  there  should  be  no  hesitation  in  laying  it 
bare.  Mrs.  Woffington  said  that  you  were — 
please,  I  dare  not  say  it — 

Rich 

[Clenching  his  fists.] 
Go  on,  Mrs.  Bellamy !   I  am  a  philosopher ! 

Bellamy 

[With  concealed  maliciousness.] 
Woffington  called  you  an  ignorant  old  fool! 

Rich 

[His  voice  trembling  with  rage.] 
Mrs.  Bellamy,  you  shall  have  as  big  a  part  as  you 
could  wish. 

Bellamy 
[Curtseying.] 

I  am  deeply  in  your  debt — *ior  will  you  find  me 
lacking  in  appreciation. 

Rich 

You  shall  play  Monimia  in  The  Orphan — 
damme,  I'll  buy  you  a  new  dress  for  it — any 
thing  you  want — we'll  show  the  town  and  that 
Woffington  woman  there's  some  merit  in  you, 
Mrs.  Bellamy. 

[18] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Bellamy 

Your  kindness  overwhelms  me!  But  I  had 
hoped  for  some  new  part — The  Orphan  is  a 
stock  piece  and  will  not  draw  the  town  at  first 
— as  a  novelty  would. 

Rich 

[Goes  to  a  large  cupboard,  which  he  opens. 
Several  dozen  manuscripts,  of  all  shapes 
and  sizes,  tumble  on  to  the  floor  as  he  opens 
the  door.] 

Here  y'are — there's  drama  for  you! 
[Points  to  the  mass  of  manuscripts.] 

Bellamy 

What  is  that  strange  mountain  of  paper? 
Rich 

Plays — all  of  'em — unacted  plays — tragedies — 
comedies — operas — some  of  'em  have  been 
there  for  years. 

Bellamy 
Heavens!     Have  you  read  all  those  plays? 

Rich 

I  never  read  plays.  Never  read  one  in  my  life. 
But  every  poet  and  scribbler  in  town  sends 
'em  in.  I  only  play  what  the  fashionable  peo 
ple  want.  It's  their  money  runs  this  theatre. 
Do  these  damned  scribblers  ever  risk  their 
[19] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


money?  Not  they — they  haven't  any.  It's 
men  like  Sir  Charles  Williams  that  tell  me 
what  to  play.  It's  their  cash.  But  hark'ee, 
Mrs.  Bellamy — I'd  like  to  do  ye  a  favor.  If 
you  can  find  a  part  there  that  suits  ye,  I'll  put 
it  on,  damme  if  I  don't ! 

[Mrs.  Bellamy,  with  a  little  cry  of  delight, 
runs  across  the  stage,  and  sits  on  the  floor 
as  she  turns  over  the  pile  of  manuscripts. 
Enter,  at  this  point,  from  the  door  R.,  Sir 
Charles  Hanbury  Williams,  a  tall,  hand 
some  man,  with  signs  of  dissipation  in  his 
face.  His  movements  are  languid  but  grace 
ful.  He  steps  rather  deliberately  and  scru 
tinises  Bellamy  through  his  eyeglass  as  he 
advances.] 

Rich 

[Bowing  obsequiously.] 
Good  evening,  Sir  Charles ! 

Sir  Charles 

Confound  you,  Rich — take  your  litter  of   cats 

away! 

[To  Bellamy.] 
Ah — Mrs.   Bellamy — what  a  charming  picture! 

Beauty  choosing  between  comedy  and  tragedy. 

A  worthy  crown  for  each. 

[He  bows  and  takes  snuff.] 
[20] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Bellamy 

[Rising  and  curtseying.] 
Flattery  in  a  wit,  Sir  Charles !    Fie ! 

Sir  Charles 

Flattery  to  you  would  be  impossible,  even  were  I 
capable  of  such  a  vice.    Where  beauty  and  art 
are  so  much  in  harmony — the  truth  proclaims 
itself. 
[Turns  to  Rich.] 

Our  lovely  Peggy  is  getting  her  accustomed  ap 
plause  tonight — I  hear.  Her  Sir  Harry  Wild- 
air  has  brought  us  in  a  tidy  little  sum,  eh, 
Rich? 

Rich 

Two  hundred  pounds  in  the  house  tonight,  Sir 
Charles. 

Sir  Charles 

Ah — then  we  may  announce  it  for  the  following 
week,  may  we  not? 

Rich 
Why,  sir,  as  for  that — 

Sir  Charles 

Come,    come!     I   have   promised    Peggy.      You 
would  not  have  me  break  my  promise  to  a 
lovely  woman?    Announce  Mrs.  Woffington  in 
Sir  Harry  Wildair  for  next  week,  d'ye  hear? 
[21] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Rich 
Yes,  Sir  Charles. 

Sir  Charles 

By  the  bye,  Rich, — my  lawyer  has  brought  the 
sum  you  mentioned, — ahem!  He's  ready  to 
attend  you. 

Rich 

The  money  for  the  new  play?  One  thousand 
pounds — 

Sir  Charles 

Yes,  yes — the  sum  does  not  matter.  Arrange 
that  at  your  convenience. 

Rich 
I'll  go  to  him  straightway. 

Sir  Charles 
Pray,  do  so,  by  all  means. 

[Exit  Rich  through  the  door  R.] 

Sir  Charles 
[To  Mrs.  Bellamy.] 

Mrs.  Bellamy,  I  have  long  sought  this  oppor 
tunity  to  assure  you  of  my  devotion  to  your 
genius. 

Bellamy 

Your  approbation,  Sir  Charles,  is  an  honor, 
knowing  as  I  do  the  excellence  of  your  criti 
cal  taste. 

[22] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

[Coughs  slightly  as  he  flicks  some  snuff  off  a 

ruffle.] 

My  critical  taste,  madam,  as  you  are  pleased  to 
call  it,  is  ever  at  the  service  of  a  beautiful 
woman. 

Bellamy 

Then  I  wonder,  Sir  Charles,  if  you  would  do  a 
favor  for  me  ? 

Sir  Charles 

[Looks     at   her   sharply    and    comes   a   step 

nearer.] 

Any  commands  with  which  Mrs.  Bellamy  may 
honor  me,  I  shall  obey  to  the  very  letter. 

Bellamy 

You  spoke  to  Mr.  Rich  about — about  Mrs.  Wof- 
fington  ? 

Sir  Charles 

There's  the  rub,  is  it?  And  what  have  you  to 
say  about  Mrs.  Woffington? 

Bellamy 

Will  you  persuade  Mr.  Rich  to  let  me  have  a 
part  suited  to  my  talents  ?    Will  you  have  him 
announce  me  in  some  new  play? 
[23] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

Can  you  draw  the  town,  madam,  like  our  lovely 
Peggy? 

Bellamy 

I  am  as  pretty  as  she  is !  And  I  can  act — I  know 
it — I  feel  it !  What  chance  have  I  had  in  small 
parts — with  Mrs.  Woffington  taking  all  the  ap 
plause  !  All  I  wish  is  an  opportunity. 

Sir  Charles 

And  if  you  fail,  madam,  have  you  ever  thought 
of  that  ?  Do  you  realize  what  it  means  to  face 
the  hisses  of  an  angry  audience?  They  spoil 
their  favorites — but  are  without  pity  for  those 
who  fail  to  please. 

Bellamy 

I  am  prepared  for  that !    They  shall  listen  to  me 
as  they  do  to  Peg  Woffington ! 

Sir  Charles 

And  if  I  grant  you  this  favor,  Mrs.  Bellamy? 
Bellamy 

Sir,  I  will  be  your  grateful  servant — I'll  do  any 
thing  for  you ! 

Sir  Charles 

Anything!  child — remember — when  I  grant  my 
favors  to  the  fair  sex,  I  only  grant  them  on 
[24] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


condition.     Do  not  let  us  misunderstand  one 
another.    Are  you  prepared  to  pay  a  fair  quid 
pro  quo? 
[Coming  close  to  her.] 

Bellamy 

[Shrinks  back,  then  nerves  herself.] 
Yes. 

Sir  Charles 

[He  looks  at  her  steadily,   then   bows  over 

her  hand,  which  he  kisses. 1 
You  shall  have  the  next  new  play,  madam,  I'll 
see    Rich    tonight — and — er — I'll    pacify    the 
Woffington — I   have   a — certain — influence   in 
that  quarter.     My  chaise  will  call  for  you  to 
morrow — there  is  a  charming  little  house  and 
garden  of  which  I  am  the  owner — but  it  shall 
be  wholly  at  your  disposition. 
[As  he  again  takes  her  hand  and  presses  it 
fervently  to  his  lips,  Peg  Woffington  enters 
from  the  door  R.     She  is  dressed  as  Sir 
Harry  Wildair,  in  white  satin,  closely  fitting 
breeches,   white   silk   stockings   and   black 
pumps,  with  red  heels.   Her  coat  is  also  of 
white  satin  trimmed  with  silver  brocade.   On 
her  head  she  wears  a  small  man's  wig,  but 
no   hat.     At  her  side   hangs  a  light   court 
sword.      As    she    sees    Sir    Charles    kiss 
Bellamy's  hand,  she  dashes  angrily  forward, 
[25] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


drawing  her  stage  sword  in  her  fury,  and 
lunges  at  Sir  Charles.  He  turns  quickly, 
and  coolly,  with  a  deft  motion,  catches  Peg's 
wrist  and  presses  it.  As  he  does  so,  she 
drops  the  sword  with  a  cry  of  pain.  He 
puts  his  foot  on  the  sword,  releases  her 
wrist  and  bows  with  extreme  formal  polite 
ness.  ] 

Sir  Charles 

[With  ironical  sarcasm.] 

You  are  behind  the  scenes  now,  my  lovely 
Peggy, — and  Sir  Harry  Wildair  is  but  a 
woman  after  all. 

Peg 

[Panting  with  rage.] 
How  dare  you  to  presume  to  touch  me ! 

Sir  Charles 

[Picking  up  her  sword.] 
To  prevent  you  from  doing  a  mischief  with  this 

stage  bauble. 

[Tests  the  blade,  smiling,  and  bends  it.] 
A  pretty  thing, — but,  like  a  woman,  a  dangerous 

toy  for  the  unskilled. 

Bellamy 

[Comes  forward.] 

It  may  please  you  to  know,   Mrs.   Woffington, 
[26] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


that  Sir  Charles  has  promised  me  the  next 
new  play. 

Peg 

Never!     I   forbid  it!     Do  you  hear?     Never! 
Never !   Never ! 

Bellamy 
[Laughs. ] 
You  forbid  it?    And  pray  by  what  authority? 

Peg 

By  my  own !   I'll  see  Mr.  Rich  myself — I'll  have 
you  turned  out  of  the  theatre ! 

Sir  Charles 
Can  it  be  that  lovely  Peggy  is  jealous? 

Peg 

Not  of  this  doll !    A  silly,  simpering  French  mil 
liner  ! 

Bellamy 

At  least  you  will  allow  that  my  voice  doesn't 
squeak ! 

Sir  Charles 

[Sits  on  table,  thoroughly  enjoying  the  quar 
rel.] 
Aye,  Peg!     She  had  you  there! 

[27] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

Her  voice  lacks  all  expression  whatever!     It  is 
like  the  mechanical  bird  in  Cox's  Museum. 

Bellamy 

My  art  is  womanly.    /  do  not  need  to  strut  about 
in  breeches  and  ape  the  men. 

Peg 

Aye,  we  know  well  enough  that  you  do  not  dare 
to  show  the  truth  about  your  figure ! 

Sir  Charles 

Egad,  Peggy,  you've  settled  for  the  squeaking 
voice!     Eh,  Bellamy? 

Bellamy 

Je  m'en  fiche!  One  cannot  expect  manners  from 
an  orange  woman! 

Peg 

Nor  virtue  in  the  French ! 

Sir  Charles 

Nor  love  and  charity  on  the  stage, — you  might 
add!    Life  is — 

Peg 

I  don't  care  a  farthing  rush  for  life,  or  your  sen 
timents  on  this  subject! 
[28] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Bellamy 

Nor  did  the  man  who  mimicked  your  voice 
from  a  box  last  night  care  for  yours ! 

Peg 

Tate  Wilkinson!  A  beggar — a  hanger  on  of  the 
theatre — who  thinks  because  he  can  mimic 
others  that  he  can  act  himself.  He  dared  to 
mock  me  last  night — but  he  shall  pay  for  it! 
If  he  has  the  audacity  to  present  himself  here 
again — I'll  show  you  whether  Peg  Woffington 
has  any  influence  in  this  theatre! 

Sir  Charles 

Tate  Wilkinson  is  a  clever  boy.  I  am  thinking  of 
recommending  him  for  a  position  here.  He 
keeps  the  Bedford  in  a  roar  with  his  mimicry. 
It  was  a  bold  thing  to  do,  Peg,  to  mock  you  to 
your  face.  I  like  his  spirit. 

Peg 

I  hope  he  will  like  mine!  The  mean,  pitiful 
hound — 

Sir  Charles 

Ah,  Peggy,  you  do  not  hate  as  prettily  as  you 
love! 

Peg 

[Comes  close  to  him.] 

Do  you  dare  to  speak  that  word  to  me — now  ? 
[29] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

Caution  would  best  become  you,  madam !   There 
are  eager  ears  listening. 

Peg 

Perhaps  you  prefer  to  listen  to  this  pert  crea 
ture? 
[Nods  insultingly  at  Bellamy.] 

Sir  Charles 
[Coolly.] 
And  if  I  do?      Strong  diet  may  pall. 

Peg 

[Stamps  her  foot  in  a  frenzy  of  rage.} 
You    brute!      You    shameless    libertine!      You 
rake! 

[Sir  Charles  laughs  heartily  at  this  and  slaps 
his  knee.] 

Sir  Charles 
You  never  acted  better  in  your  life,  Peggy! 

Peg 

[Beside  herself  with  jealous  rage — rushes  at 

Bellamy.] 
As  for  you ! 

[Seises  Bellamy  by  the  shoulders  and  shakes 
her    violently.       Bellamy    screams.       They 
struggle  a  moment,  while  Williams  is  un- 
[30] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


able  to  control  his  laughter.  Peg's  short  wig 
comes  off,  and  her  hair  tumbles  down  over 
her  shoulders.  Bellamy  slips  out  of  her 
grasp,  and  runs  screaming  from  the  room. 
Sir  Charles  stoops,  picks  up  Peg's  wig,  and 
hands  it  to  her  with  a  bow.} 

Sir  Charles 

No  gentleman  should  be  seen  without  his  wig! 
[Peg  snatches  it  from  him  and  begins  to  bind 
up  her  hair,  panting  with  rage.} 

Peg 

Understand  me,  Sir  Charles,  after  your  conduct 
tonight  there  can  be  nothing  further  between 
us.  I  am  done! 

Sir  Charles 

Surely,  you  are  not  jealous  of  Bellamy?  Have 
I  ever  reproached  you  with  the  young  spark 
in  the  stage-box — at  whom  I've  seen  you  cast 
glances  more  than  once.  Pray,  permit  me  the 
same  indulgence. 

Peg 

I  have  never  spoken  to  Mr.  David  Garrick  in  my 
life. 

Sir  Charles 

But  you  know  his  name.  Perhaps  you  have  seen 
a  poem  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine — to 
"Sylvia,"  by  D.  G.? 

[31] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

And  if  I  have?    Am  I  to  be  blamed  for  every 
fop  that  writes  me  verses? 

Sir  Charles 

Ah,  he  wrote  them  to  you?     I  was  only  aware 
that  they  appeared  in  a  newspaper. 

Peg 

[Bites  her  Up  with  vexation.] 
This  continual  suspicion  is  intolerable. 

Sir  Charles 
Because  you  have  given  me  continual  cause. 

Peg 

Then  I  intend  no  longer  to  grant  you  the  right  to 
question  my  actions. 

Sir  Charles 

Agreed!     I  long  ago  ceased  to  look  for  either 
gratitude  or  appreciation  from  you,  madam. 

Peg 

Nor  did  I  expect  gentlemanly  behavior  from  you. 
We  are  quits,  at  all  events. 

Sir  Charles 

Aye,  quits,  as  you  call  it,  Peggy!    For  the  pres 
ent— 

[32] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[Taking  a  trinket  from  her  dress.] 
There! 

[Throws  it  at  his  feet.] 

Sir  Charles 

Behold  the  tragedy  queen!     You  are  much  bet 
ter  in  comedy,  Peggy. 

[Enter  a  servant,  followed  by  Tate  Wilkinson, 
a  poor  and  needy  young  man,  who  is  making 
a  vain  search  for  a  position  as  an  actor.] 

Servant 

Mr.  Tate  Wilkinson  desires  to  wait  here  to  see 
Mr.  Rich,  if  you  please. 

Wilkinson 

[Comes  forward — to  Peg  who  has  turned  her 
back.] 

If  you  have  any  pity — help  me  to  get  an  inter 
view  with  him.    I  can  act — but  I  am  starving — 

Sir  Charles 

Come  now,  Peggy,  what  do  you  say?    Here  is  a 
fellow-actor  implores  your  pity. 

Peg 

[Turns  around,  her  eyes  flashing,  and  goes  up 
to  Wilkinson.] 

[33] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Mr.  Wilkinson,  your  impudence  to  me  last  night 
is  proof  of  your  ignorance.  When  you  mim 
icked  me  in  public,  I  commanded  Mr.  Rich 
not  to  give  you  any  engagement  whatever,  not 
even  of  the  most  menial  kind.  You  deserve 
neither  charity  nor  pity,  or  my  purse  would 
have  given  you  a  dinner.  I  sincerely  hope,  in 
whatever  barn  you  are  suffered  as  an  unworthy 
stroller,  that  you  will  fully  experience  the 
same  contempt  you  dared  last  night  to  offer 
me. 

[  With  a  flounce  she  turns  from  him  and  goes 
up  stage,  leaving  Wilkinson  crushed  and  de 
jected.] 

Sir  Charles 
Do  you  still  desire  to  see  Mr.  Rich? 

Wilkinson 
No.     I— I—.     Ah,  well,  I  will  go. 

[Seeing  that  his  case  is  hopeless,  he  walks 
slowly  and  sorrowfully  away  and  goes  out 
the  door  R.,  followed  by  the  servant.] 

Sir  Charles 

Your  reputation  for  charity,  madam,  will  suffer, 
I  fear. 

Peg 

I  would  have  forgiven  him  anything  but  an  in 
sult  upon  the  stage.     Let  him  mimic  me  in 
[34] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


hole-and-corner  coffee-houses  if  he  chooses — 

but  not  when  I  am  playing  at  Covent  Garden. 

[Enter,  after  a  noise  of  talking  and  laughter 
off-stage,  Quin,  Macklin  and  Rich.  Mack- 
lin  is  a  portly  man  with  a  strongly  lined 
face.] 

Quin 

[To  Peg,  bowing.] 
I  wondered,  when  I  heard  the  applause  tonight, 

madam,  whether  the  town  admired  more  your 

art  or  your  beauty? 

Peg 

The  applause,  which  you  confess  to  hearing, 
answered  your  question,  sir,  sufficiently. 

Sir  Charles 

Have  a  care,  Quin!  The  lady  is  not  to  be 
trifled  with. 

Macklin 

Madam,  your  servant! 

[Bows  and  kisses  her  hand.    Turns  to  Quin.] 

Mr.  Quin,  because  we  aim  today  to  hold  the  mir 
ror  up  to  nature,  you  should  not  censure  act 
ing  which  differs  from  the  school  with  which 
you  are  familiar. 

Rich 

Macklin,  you  speak  too  damned  familiarly  on 
the  stage.     I  don't  like  it. 
[35] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 

[To  Macklin.] 

Sir,   you  may  remember  that  I   said  your  last 
comedy  would  be  damned? 

Macklin 
Well,  sir? 

Quin 

[Chuckling.] 
It  was  damned, — the  public  would  none  of  it. 

Macklin 
Well,  sir? 

Quin 

What  do  you  think  of  my  judgment  in  matters 
of  the  stage  now  ? 

Macklin 

Why,  I  think  posterity  will  do  me  justice. 
Quin 

I  believe  they  will,  sir,  for  now  it's  only  your 
play  that  is  damned;  but  posterity  will  have 
the  satisfaction  to  know  that  both  play  and 
actor  met  the  same  fate ! 

Peg 

A  truce — a  truce.    I  am  weary  of  all  your  pom 
pous    squabbles    about    plays    and    acting.      I 
never  bother  my  head  about  either, — and  yet, 
[36] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


by  the  applause  I  received  this  evening,  I 
verily  think  half  the  town  believes  me  to  be 
a  real  man. 

Quin 

Madam,  the  other  half  knows  you  to  be  a 
woman ! 

[Peg  walks  away  in  some  confusion,  while  the 
others,  even  Macklin,  roar.} 

Sir  Charles 

Egad,    Quin,    you've   performed    a   miracle!      I 
wager  you  made  the  Irish  girl  blush! 
[Enter  a  servant  from  the  door  R.] 

Servant 
[To  Rich.] 

The  young  wine-merchant  to  see  you,  sir, — Mr. 
David  Garrick. 

Rich 

I'm  busy — it's  inconvenient.  What  the  devil! 
I've  sent  him  away  twice  tonight! 

Servant 

He  instructed  me  to  say, — begging  your  pardon, 
sir,  that  he  intended  to  return  until  you  did 
see  him. 

Rich 

The  confounded  impudent  puppy! 
[37] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[To  the  servant.] 

You  blockhead !    How  dare  you  bring  me  such  a 
message  ? 

Peg 

[Comes  forward.    To  the  servant.] 
Show  Mr.  Garrick  in,  please.    Mr.  Rich  will  see 
him. 

Rich 

Zounds! — what — what's    this?      Do    nothing   of 
the  kind ! 

Sir  Charles 

Do  you  hear?    Send  him  packing! 

Peg 

[To  the  servant.] 
You  heard  me.     Show  Mr.  Garrick  in! 

Servant 
Yes,  madam. 

[Bows  and  retires  hastily.] 

Rich 

[To  Peg.] 
Would  you  defy  me,  madam,  in  my  own  theatre  ? 

Sir  Charles 

Aye, — she  would  defy  the  devil  in  his, — and  I've 
no  doubt  he  owns  one. 
[38] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Mr.  Garrick  is  a  young  man  of  parts — and  by 
reports  from  Ipswich  where  he  lately  played, 
will  be  a  great  actor. 

Quin 

Aye,  he's  been  ogling  you  from  the  boxes, — 'tis 
all  he  needs  to  teach  him  to  act. 

Sir  Charles 

It  is  the  neat  little  man  who  sits  in  the  right  hand 
stage-box?  I  know  him,  a  low  fellow — and  a 
tradesman. 

Macklin 

Well,  sir,  and  what  if  he  were  a  tradesman? 

Sir  Charles 
Oh,  nothing,  I  assure  you, — 'tis  all  one  to  me. 

[To  Peg.} 
Madam,  permit  me  to  congratulate  you  upon — 

shall    we    say — your    most    recent    admirer? 

Egad,  if  we  could  all  escape  our  wine-bills  so 

easily ! 

[Enter  the  servant  from  the  door  R.] 

Servant 
[Announcing.] 
Mr.  David  Garrick ! 

[Enter  David  Garrick,  a  small,  nervous,  fussy 
man,  with  a  diffident  manner  and  a  hesitat- 
[39] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


ing  trick  of  speech.  His  clothes  are  neat 
and  he  obviously  gives  much  attention  to  his 
dress,  as  far  as  his  rather  limited  means  will 
permit.] 

Garrick 
[Bows.] 

Madam — your  servant!     Mr.   Rich,   sir,   I — I— 
I— 

Rich 

Don't  eye  me,  sir! 

Garrick 

If  I  might  make  so  bold,  by  your  leave,  sir- 
Sir  Charles 
Pay  your  wine-bill,  Rich,  and  send  him  away. 

Garrick 

I  was  not— not  aware,  sir,  that  I  was  addressing 
you? 

Sir  Charles 

No  ?    Do  you  see  any  offence  in  my  conduct,  sir  ? 

Garrick 

This  is  not  the  place  to— to  answer  that  question. 
Sir  Charles 

I  would  have  you  know,  sir,  that  I  am  not  ac 
customed  to  pick  and  choose  where  or  how  I 
talk  to  tradesmen. 

[40] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

[Stepping  between  them.} 

Mr.  Garrick  is  my  friend, — and  it  is  my  wish 
that  he  be  received  accordingly. 

Sir  Charles 

Pardon  me,  madam,  I  understood  the  young  man 
was  unknown  to  you — except — ah,  of  course— 
I  was  forgetting  the  stage-box  and  the  poetry ! 
[To  Garrick.} 

You  are  a  critic,  as  well,  I  believe?  A  most  ac 
complished  person,  truly!  Did  you  find  the 
barns  at  Ipswich  very  draughty,  sir  ? 

Peg 

If  you  persist  in  your  insults,  Sir  Charles,  Mr. 
Garrick  may  forget  that  he  is  a  gentleman. 

Sir  Charles 

Wine-merchants  have  short  memories  and  long 
accounts.  Pray,  let  the  young  man  speak  for 
himself,  madam. 

Garrick. 
My  business  for  the  moment  is  with  Mr.  Rich. 

Peg 
Mr.  Rich  will  grant  you  an  interview. 

Sir  Charles 

The  Woffington  is  in  command,  Rich.     Let  us 
[41] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


withdraw   and   not   interrupt   so   charming   a 
tete-a-tete. 

Rich 
[Snarls.] 
I  can't  talk  to  him.     I'm  busy! 

Garrick 

Nevertheless,    madam,    I    thank    you    for   your 
courtesy. 
[Bows.] 

Peg 

Theatrical  managers  delight  in  making  simple 
matters  difficult.  I  was  myself  compelled  to 
call  upon  Mr.  Rich  nineteen  times  before  he 
would  receive  me.  And  yet,  but  for  me,  the 
season  would  have  been  a  failure.  Theatrical 
managers,  Mr.  Garrick,  cannot  see  an  inch 
beyond  their  noses,  although  their  business  is 
further  off. 

Rich 

Well,  well,  what  is  it  you  want,  Muster  Garrick, 
eh?  Come,  come,  sir, — don't  keep  me  wait 
ing. 

Garrick 

I  have  called  to  apply  for  a  position  in  the 
theatrical  company  at  Covent  Garden. 

Rich 

Want  to  act,  eh?    Ever  done  any  acting,  eh? 
[42] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Garrick 

This  summer,  sir,  at  Ipswich — I  played  a  few 
small  parts — not  without  success. 

Rich 
What  were  they,  eh? 

Garrick 

Aboan  in  Oroonoko — and  a  few  others.  The 
season  was  a  brief  one. 

Rich 

[With  scorn.] 

A  strolling  actor,  eh?  And  what  do  you  think, 
sir,  a  strolling  actor  could  do  at  Covent  Gar 
den?  This  is  the  temple  of  the  Muses,  sir! 

Quin 

[To  Garrick.] 

Neither  your  presence,  sir,  nor  your  personality 
possesses  that  dignity  or  decorum  which  is 
one  of  the  first  requisites  for  an  actor.  There, 
sir,  on  that  wall  is  a  portrait  of  Betterton. 
Look  on  that  picture,  sir,  and  then  on  this ! 
[Points  to  Garrick' s  image  in  the  mirror.] 

Garrick 
[Quietly.] 

I  did  not  come  here,  Mr.  Quin,  to  receive  a  les 
son  in  acting,  but  to  give  one. 
[43] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 
What!     Why,  you — you — 

Peg 

I  think  I  can  vouch  for  the  truth  of  Mr.  Gar- 
rick's  statement.  If  the  reports  from  Ipswich 
may  be  trusted — coupled  with  a  private  ex 
hibition  of  Mr.  Garrick's  which  I  once  saw 
without  his  knowledge — 

Sir  Charles 

Private  exhibition?  Aye,  I  warrant  the  truth  of 
the  last,  Rich ! 

[Slaps  Rich  on  the  back  heavily  to  the  latter' s 
obvious  displeasure.] 

Peg 

[With  dignity.] 

If  you  have  exhausted  your  pleasantry,  Sir 
Charles,  Mr.  Garrick  will  favor  us  with  a 
recitation. 

Sir  Charles 

Oh,  by  all  means!  A  recitation  is  the  thing! 
Damme,  let's  hear  the  wine-merchant  decant 
his  claret! 

Macklin 

Sir,  I  think  you  will  allow  that  I  am  an  actor  not 
entirely  without  judgment? 
[44] 


§ 

LOVELY   PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

I've  always  said,  my  boy,  that  it  was  a  pity  a 
clever  fellow  like  you  should  be  a  player. 

Macklin 

What  would  you  have  me  be,  Sir  Charles,  a 
baronet  ? 

Sir  Charles 
Confound  your  impudence! 

Macklin 

As  I  was  on  the  point  of  observing,  I  would  like 
to  add  my  opinion  in  Mr.  Garrick's  favor,  to 
that  of  Mrs.  Woffington.  What  will  you 
recite,  Mr.  Garrick?  A  passage  from  Richard 
the  Third? 

Rich 

No — that's  my  part.  I  will  not  suffer  a  bungler 
to  repeat  my  best  part. 

Garrick 

There  is  a  scene  in  Alexander  the  Great,  or  the 
Rival  Queens,  which  I  had  thought  would  dis 
play  my  talents. 

Quin 
Alexander  the  Little,  I  believe  you  to  mean,  sir? 

Sir  Charles 

Permit  me  to  suggest  the  gay  Lothario!     Or 

stay!    Romeo  to  Mrs.  Woffington's  Juliet! 

[45] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[To  Sir  Charles.] 
You  are  vastly  amusing,  sir. 

[To  Garrick.] 
The  Rival  Queens  is  a  somewhat  heavy  tragedy, 

Mr.  Garrick — but  if  it  must  be  tragedy? 

Garrick 
Aye,  by  all  means. 

Peg 

You  are  the  best  judge.    But  a  comedy  scene? 
Garrick 

Impossible.    I  must  show  them  the  noblest  talent 
first. 

Peg 

Shall  we  recite  a  scene  together — it  will  encour 
age  you  perhaps  ? 

Garrick 

Madam,  you  put  me  infinitely  into  your  debt. 
[Bows.] 

Rich 

Come,  Muster  Garrick,  I  can't  be  waiting  here 
all  night. 

Peg 
Help  me  to  set  the  stage,  Mr.  Garrick! 

[Begins  to  rearrange  the  furniture  with  Gar- 
rick's   help.     Sir    Charles   looks    on    much 
[46] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


amused.  Quin  snorts  and  paces  up  and 
down.  Rich  gazes  into  space  and  Macklin 
beams  encouragement.] 

Peg 

Let  me  see  ?    Shall  we  try  a  scene  from  the  fifth 
act? 

Garrick 
I  leave  it  to  your  judgment,  Mrs.  Woffington. 


I'll  play  Roxana  to  your  Alexander.  H'm  — 
H'm  —  no,  that  scene  won't  do.  That  chair 
should  be  over  on  this  side,  Mr.  Garrick.  Let 
us  begin  with  the  scene  just  after  I  have 
murdered  Statira  —  you  know  the  place? 

Garrick 

Certainly.  You  fling  yourself  at  my  feet,  drip 
ping  blood,  and  plead  for  my  love. 

Sir  Charles 

That  will  scarcely  give  Mrs.  Woffington  an  op 
portunity  to  act. 

Peg 

[Ignoring  the  interruption.] 
You  spurn  me  and  deliver  the  long  speech  about 
Alexander  conquering  the  world. 

[47] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 
Would  you  play  Roxana  in  breeches,  Peg? 

Peg 

That  is  easily  remedied.     I'll  throw  this  cloak 
about  me — 

[Picks  up  a  cloak  and  drapes  it  over  her.] 
and  let  down  my  hair. 

[She  tosses  her  wig  to  one  side,  takes  out 
some  hairpins,  shakes  her  head  vigorously 
and  her  hair  pours  over  her  shoulders.} 

Peg 
Now — are  you  ready,  Mr.  Garrick? 

Garrick 
At  your  service,  Mrs.  Woffington. 

Peg 

Will  you  act  as  prompter,  Mr.  Macklin?    Have 
you  a  text? 

Macklin 
Text!    I  know  the  scene  by  heart. 

Peg 

[Mischievously.} 

Then  take  care  you  do  not  interrupt  my  grand 
pause ! 

[48] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 
Must  we  witness  the  mumming  of  this  stroller? 

Macklin 
Silence,  please !     Pray  begin,  Mrs.  Woffington. 

Peg 

[Assumes  the  manner  of  Roxana  and  begins 
to  declaim  in  the  tragic  sing-song  of  the 
day.} 

Oh,  take  me  to  your  arms ! 
In  spite  of  all  your  cruelty  I  love  you ; 
Thus  on  my  knees  for  ever  cling  around  thee, 

[Kneels  at  Garrick' s  feet.} 
Till  you  forgive  me,  or  'till  death  divide  us. 

Garrick 

[Assumes  a  more  natural  manner  as  Alex 
ander.  } 

Hence,  fury,  hence :  there's  not  a  glance  of  thine 
But  like  a  basilisk  comes  wing'd  with  death. 

Peg 

[Same  business.} 
Oh,  speak  not  thus  to  one  who  kneels  for  mercy ! 

Garrick 
[Same  business.} 

[49] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Off,  murderess,  off !  for  ever  shun  my  sight ; 
My  eyes  detest  thee,  for  thy  soul  is  ruin. 
Repeated  injuries  have  steel'd  my  heart, 
And  I  could  curse  myself  for  being  kind. 
If  there  is  any  majesty  above 
That  has  revenge  in  store  for  perjured  love, 
Send,  Heaven,  the  swiftest  ruin  on  her  head ! 
Is  there  not  cause  to  put  the  world  in  mourning? 
Burn  all  the  spires  that  seem  to  meet  the  sky, 
And  raze  the  battlements  of  all  the  world ! 

[Sir  Charles  bursts  into  loud  laughter  at  the 

conclusion.     Then  with  elaborate  politeness 

he  raises  Peg  to  her  feet.] 

Sir  Charles 

'Twas  as  good  as  a  booth  at  Bartholomew  Fair ! 
'Twould  do  for  a  puppet  show,  eh,  Rich  ? 

Rich 
You  must  larn  how  to  act,  Muster  Garrick. 

Quin 

Egad,  if  you  call  that  acting,  Mr.  Garrick,  then 
we're  all  wrong. 

Macklin 

Aye,  you  may  sneer  if  you  will — but  my  only 
fear  is  that  this  young  man  will  be  spoiled, 
for  he  will  have  no  competitor. 
[50] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

Must  I  speak  an  epilogue,  Mr.  Rich — and  ask 
you  to  grant  my  suit? 

Rich 
It's  soon  spoke.     No! 

Garrick 
What?     But  I— I— I— 

Rich 
No!  !    Do  ye  hear?    No!  ! 

[Rich  stamps  out  of  the  room,  muttering  to 
himself.] 

Garrick 

[Crestfallen — turning  toward  Quin.] 
Perhaps  you,  sir,  will  be  more  lenient  in  your 
'judgment? 

Quin 

It  has  seldom  been  my  misfortune,  sir,  to  listen 
to  a  person  with  less  talent  for  the  dramatic 
art! 

Garrick 

[Mimicking  Quin's  voice  and  manner.] 
Twelve  of  the  clock  and  a  fine  night!     All's 
well !    Dogberry  hath  said  it ! 
[Quin  suppresses  a  muttered  oath  and  stalks 
from  the  room.] 

[51] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

[Coming  up  to  Garrick.] 

In  order  to  anticipate  any  more  of  your  imper 
tinent  questions,  permit  me  to  assure  you  that 
your  presumption  in  forcing  your  way  in  here 
is  only  what  is  to  be  expected  from  a  person 
of  your  condition. 

[Bows  to  the  others,  and  goes  out,  affecting 
to  take  snuff.  Garrick,  pale  ivith  rage,  is 
restrained  by  Peg,  who  places  her  hand 
softly  on  his  arm.] 

Peg 

Mr.  Garrick,  it  would  ill  become  you  to  quarrel 
with  such  a  man,  whose  opinion  rests  upon 
malice — and  jealousy. 

Garrick 

[Bowing  humbly  over  her  hand.} 
Mrs.  Woffington — I — I  do  not  know  how  to  find 
words     which     would     convey     suitably     my 
thanks — 

Peg 
Then  do  not  try. 

Macklin 

[Offers  his  hand.] 

Mr.  Garrick,  I  have  had  no  small  experience  on 
the  stage,  and  my  talents — such  as  they  are, 
sir,  have  not  gone  unrewarded.     I  know  an 
[52] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


actor  when  I  see  one,  sir.  I  was  a  witness  of 
your  performances  at  Ipswich  and  I  am  ready 
to  wager  my  reputation,  sir,  on  your  success. 

Garrick 
You  are  very  obliging,  sir. 

Macklin 

And  furthermore,  I  will  lend  you  any  assistance 
in  my  power  to  secure  a  London  engagement 
for  you. 

Peg 

And  I  will  do  the  same!  Mr.  GifTard  of  Good 
man's  Field's  Theatre  is  my  friend — I  will  see 
him  myself ! 

Garrick 
Madam — you — you  overwhelm  me. 

Peg 

[Assuming  a  broad  Irish  brogue.] 
Sure,  I'm  only  after  helping  a  fellow  artist  and 
it's  a  thousand  pities  ye're  not  Irish  like  my 
self — or  Mr.  Macklin  here. 

Garrick 

What  can  I  say,  Mrs.  Woffington?    After  meet 
ing  with  such  rebuffs  tonight,  to  be  treated  in 
this  manner  by  you!     I  see  the  dreams  of  my 
life  at  last  coming  true! 
[53] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Macklin 
[Coughs.] 

Then  it's  settled,  my  boy.  Peggy  here  and  I  will 
try  our  hand  with  Giffard,  and  sure,  there 
ought  to  be  blarney  enough  between  us  to  get 
you  an  engagement. 

Garrick 
Thank  you,  Mr.  Macklin — really,  I — I — 

Macklin 

Have  you  thought  of  a  part  for  your  first 
attempt  ? 

Garrick 

Richard  the  Third  I  thought  most  suited  to  me. 
I  would  not  like  to  begin  with  a  part  that  did 
not  fit  my  size.  If  the  public  expected  one  of 
your  great  hulking  heroes — and  then  I  were 
to  step  out — I  would  be  laughed  off  the 
boards. 

Macklin 

You're  right,  Mr.  Garrick.     Richard  the  Third 
is  the  very  thing  for  you.     Perhaps  I  can  find 
Giffard  at  the  Bedford  Coffee  House  tonight 
-I'll  have  a  try!     Madam,  your  servant. 
[Bows  to  Peg.] 

Mr.  Garrick! 
[They  bow.] 

[54] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[Macklin  goes  out  the  door  R.  Peg  sits 
archly  on  a  corner  of  the  table  and  swings 
one  foot.  She  draws  a  piece  of  paper  from 
the  bosom  of  her  coat  and  reads.] 

Peg 
[Reads.] 

"  If  truth  can  fix  thy  wav'ring  heart, 
Let  Damon  urge  his  claim ; 
He  feels  the  passion  void  of  art, 
A  pure  and  constant  flame." 
[Garrick  starts  when  he  first  hears  her,  then 
recites,  as  she  finishes:] 

Garrick 
[Reciting.] 

"  Though  sighing  swains  their  torments  tell, 
Their  worthless  love  contemn, 
They  only  prize  the  beauteous  shell 
But  slight  the  inward  gem." 

Peg 

It  was  you  who  wrote  these  verses  to  me  then? 

Garrick 
Did  you  not  observe  the  initials  D.  G.  at  the  end  ? 

Peg 

And  pray  are  you  the  only  D.  G.  in  London? 

[55] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

Mrs.  Woffington, — if  you  knew  how  I  have 
longed  for  this  moment — to  meet  you  face  to 
face, — to  hear  your  voice,  to  touch  your  hand ! 
[Seises  her  hand  and  kisses  it.] 

Peg 

[  Withdrawing  her  hand  after  a  moment.  ] 
You  act  too  well,   Mr.   Garrick.     How  shall   I 
believe  you? 

Garrick 

Have  I  not  proved  my  devotion?  Those  verses 
— which  you  have  deigned  to  treasure — my 
nightly  visits  to  the  theatre  to  watch  your 
acting, — to  follow,  your  every  motion  on  the 
stage, — I've  had  eyes  for  none  but  you, — you 
must  and  shall  believe  me! 

Peg 

I  thought  it  was  devotion  to  the  art  of  acting 
that  brought  you  to  the  theatre? 

Garrick 

The  art  of  which  you  are  goddess,  and  I  but  the 
humble  worshiper  at  your  shrine! 

Peg 
[Sighs.] 

Poor  me!     The  goddess  is  another  being  in  the 
green  room.     Gods  and  goddesses — kings  and 
[56J 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


queens — we  all  meet  and  mingle  here — and 
quarrel  for  our  pitiful  share  of  vanity. 
Applause  is  our  kingdom — and  its  echoes  soon 
die. 

Garrick 

Dear  Mrs.  Woffington — if  you  would  but  hear 

me! 

Peg 

[Smiles.] 
You  forget.    I  am  Sir  Harry  Wildair ! 

Garrick 

To  me,  a  rose  by  another  name.     Pity  me,  most 
lovely  Peggy,  for  "pity's  akin  to  love." 

Peg 

[Suddenly  bursts  into  tears.] 
Have  pity  on  me! 

[Recovering  herself.] 
There !    You  may  tell  the  town  that  you've  seen 

Sir  Harry  Wildair  shed  tears. 

Garrick 

[Taking  her  hand  again.] 

Forgive  me  if  I  wound  you  with  my  importuni 
ties.    Why  did  you  weep? 

Peg 
Because  I  am  a  woman. 

[57] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 
No  better  reason? 

Peg 

There  is  none. 

[A  slight  pause.] 
Tell  me,  what  is  your  opinion  of  my  acting? 

Garrick 
I  beg  of  you  to  listen  seriously  to  me! 

Peg 

Then  answer  my  question.    Are  you  so  unskilled 
as  not  to  know  the  value  of  flattery  ? 

Garrick 

I  cannot  flatter  you — I — 
Peg 
What  do  you  say  of  my  Sir  Harry  Wildair? 

Garrick 
I — I  admire  everything  you  do. 

Peg 
The  truth — what  is  it? 

Garrick 
Your  acting  of  Sir  Harry  is  full  of  spirit,  but — 

Peg 

I  know  that  "but"  ! — Go  on !     I  command  you ! 
[58] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Garrick 

But  after  all  one  knows  you  to  be  a  woman. 
You  do  not  play  it  as  a  man  would. 

Peg 

The  town  does  not  agree  with  you. 

Garrick 

The  town  is  the  oracle  of  Delphi — and  I  speak 
the  words  of  Cassandra. 

Peg 

[Half  vexed  and  half  amused.] 
No  man  ever  dared  before  to  tell  me  to  my  face 
,     that  I  could  not  act!    Only  women  have  done 

that! 

Garrick 
You  commanded  me  to  speak  the  truth! 

Peg 

And  I  hold  to  it.    Pray  continue.    My  Sir  Harry 
Wildair  is  feminine.     What  next,  Sir  Critic? 

Garrick 

Ah,  but  I  would  not  have  you  play  it  like  a  man ! 
I  would  not  wish  my  Peggy  capable  of  that! 

Peg 

Your  Peggy!     Has  your  effrontery  no  bounds? 
[59] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

It  is  the  way  I  always  think  of  you.  The  words 
slipped  out  before  I  was  aware.  Forgive  me. 

Peg 

[Softened.] 

It  is  granted  if  you  will  finish  your  criticism. 
Garrick 

Whenever  I  see  a  woman  play  a  man's  part,  I 
think  of  what  Dr.  Johnson  once  said. 

Peg 

And  what  was  that,  pray? 
Garrick 

That  it  was  very  wonderful  to  see  a  dog  walk 
upon  his  hind  legs,  although  he  did  it  very 
ill.  But  the  marvel  was  he  could  do  it  at  all. 

Peg 

[Getting  off  from  the  table.] 
I  vow,  Mr.  Garrick,  if  frankness  be  a  virtue — 
you  will  get  your  reward  in  Heaven ! 

Garrick 

Do  not  censure  me  for  obeying  your  command. 
Peg 

You  are  vastly  impertinent,  sir !    I  am  not  accus 
tomed  to  the  patronage  of — of — 
[60] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 
[Quietly.] 
Wine-merchants  ? 

Peg 
Why,  since  you  will  have  it  so — yes. 

Garrick 

[Goes  slowly  toward  door.] 

I  am  sorry  that  I  gave  offence  where  none  was 
meant.  But  my  sin  was  to  believe  that  a 
woman  meant  what  she  said.  Madam,  I  have 
the  honor — 

Peg 

[Imperiously.] 

Stop! 

[Then  with  arch  demureness.] 
You  have  not  said  wrhat  you  thought  of  me  as 

Sylvia  in  The  Recruiting  Officer! 

Garrick 

[Returns  with  enthusiasm.] 

Thought!  I  tried  to  utter  my  thoughts  in  those 
verses !  Ah,  my  lovely  Peggy,  I  thought  more 
than  you  could  guess, — or  have  the  patience 
to  hear!  The  Comic  Muse  herself  could  not 
have  better  graced  the  part!  As  for  your 
beauty — that,  madam,  touched  my  heart  like 
some  rare  sunset  seen  at  sea.  But  I  fear  I 
weary  you — 

[61] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Tell  me  more!  Ah,  Mr.  Garrick,  what  vain 
folk  you  must  think  us!  But  you  cannot 
understand  until  you  really  become  one  of  us, 
what  praise  means.  There  is  a  charm — a 
mystery  in  the  art  of  acting  which  is  indescrib 
able.  Out  there  in  the  pit  sit  unknown  beings, 
— we  make  them  laugh  or  cry  at  will — think 
of  the  power  that  means!  Power  over  men's 
souls  has  something  of  divinity  in  it,  and  it 
is  that  power  which  the  actor  wields. 

Garrick 
And  then? 

Peg 
[With  sadness.] 

And  then — this! 

[A  gesture  which  includes  the  green  room.] 

The  doors  are  closed — the  incense  no  longer 
floats  upon  the  air — the  offerings  and  the 
trappings  seem  cheap  and  tawdry — the  glamor 
has  gone — and  "the  rest  is  silence." 

Garrick 

[Deeply  moved,  takes  her  hand  and  kisses  it.] 
Madam,  you  have  proved  what  needed  no  proof 
to  me — that  you  have  a  heart.     The  town  in 
its  ignorance  says  you  are  heartless. 
[62] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[A  sudden  revulsion  seising  her.] 
The  town!    Ugh,  how  I  hate  it!    I  am  its  toy — 
its  plaything — to  stroke  one  moment  and  cast 
aside  the  next.    I  hate  it,  /  hate  it! 

Garrick 

Then  why  not  leave  it  all,  dear  Peggy, — come 
with  me — and  if  love  may  serve  you — 

Peg 

[Shakes  her  head  smiling.] 

Leave  the  stage?  No,  Mr.  Garrick — I  have 
drunk  too  deep.  I  could  not  be  happy  without 
the  music  of  applause  ringing  in  my  ears. 

Garrick 
[Kneeling.] 

Madam,  I  offer  you  love — devotion — all  that  a 
woman  needs — 

Peg 

Some  women — perhaps.    But  I  must  have  more ! 

I   must  have  life — free — free!     You   cannot 

cage  me! 

Garrick 
Then  you  refuse  to  marry  me? 

Peg 

[Looks  at  him  with  an  odd  expression.] 
f63J 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Marry  you?  You  offer  me  marriage?  Are  you 
in  earnest? 

Garrick 
Never  more  so,  dear  Margaret. 

Peg 
[Shudders.] 

To  marry  me — the  Irish  beggar  girl  that  sold 
oranges  in  the  streets  of  Dublin ! — Do  you 
know,  Mr.  Garrick,  many  men  have  talked  of 
love  to  Peg  Woffington — but  you  are  the  first 
who  ever  made  honorable  love  to  me! 
[  Covers  her  face  with  her  hands.  ] 

Don't !    Don't ! 

Garrick 
[Putting  one  arm  around  her  gently.] 

It  is  not  too  late.  The  future  lies  before  us — so 
what  does  the  past,  that's  gone,  matter?  I 
love  you,  dear. 

Peg 

[Looking  up  at  him,  her  eyes  shining.] 
Do  you? 

Garrick 

[Solemnly.} 
Yes. 

Peg 

[With  decision.] 

Then  I'll  never  marry  you,  Mr.  Garrick. 

[64] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[Garrick  sorrowfully  releases  her  and  goes, 
with  uncertainty,  toward  the  door.  Peg 
watches  him  closely.] 

Peg 

[As  he  reaches  the  door.] 
David ! 

[He  turns  and  seeing  the  expression  on  her 
face,  rushes  to  her.  They  embrace.} 

Peg 

I  can't  let  you  go,  David !    Ah,  sure,  I  think  it's 
your  blarney  caught  poor  Peg  Woffington! 
[He  kisses  her  on  the  mouth.} 


QUICK  CURTAIN 


[65] 


ACT  II 

SCENE  :  The  house  in  Southampton  Street, 
November,  1742.  A  large  room  of  the  period. 
The  furniture  is  of  the  time  of  Queen  Anne 
and  must  not  be  confused  with  the  furniture 
and  decoration  of  the  latter  half  of  this  cen 
tury.  The  severely  simple  interiors  of  Adams 
had  not  yet  come  into  fashion,  and  there  is 
a  rococo  touch  in  the  ornaments.  L.  placed 
diagonally  across  the  corner  of  the  room,  a 
lady's  dressing  table  with  mirror.  The  center 
of  the  stage  is  occupied  by  a  large  mahog 
any  table.  R.  an  open  fireplace  with  easy 
chair.  R.  doors  to  inner  rooms,  L.  door  to 
passage  and  street.  At  rear,  two  windows, 
through  which  one  gets  a  vista  of  tiled  roofs 
and  chimney  pots.  Over  the  fireplace  hangs 
Hogarth's  portrait  of  Peg  Woffington,  and  on 
the  mantlepiece  are  two  Chelsea-Derby  por 
celain  sphinxes  with  Peg  Woffington's  head 
replacing  the  usual  sphinx's  head.  For  a 
general  idea  of  the  style  of  this  room,  see 
Aubrey  Beardsley's  illustrations  of  Wycher- 
ley's  (<Country  Wife."  The  period  illustrated 
is,  of  course,  before  this  time,  but  it  is  assumed 
that  this  house  has  been  built  some  time,  and 
that  the  interior  has  remained  unchanged,  as 
is  the  case  with  many  English  houses  today. 
It  is  just  before  early  candle-light.  When  the 
[67] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


curtain  rises,  Peg  is  seated  before  the  dressing 
table  putting  the  finishing  touches  of  rouge 
and  powder  on  her  face.  Garrick,  with  a 
great  pile  of  papers  before  him,  is  seated  in 
front  of  the  fire,  in  the  easy  chair. 

Garrick 

Peggy,  the  critics  have  surrendered!  Listen  to 
what  they  say  of  me !  Eh,  are  you  attending  ? 

Peg 
Do  you  like  my  eyebrows  in  this  fashion? 

Garrick 

Zounds,  madam,  when  I  talk  to  you  of  my 
triumphs — you  retort  with  an  eyebrow ! 

Peg 

I  was  forgetting.  You  have  ceased  to  sigh  like 
a  furnace  and  are  now  seeking  the  bubble 
reputation.  My  eyebrows  are  of  no  conse 
quence. 

Garrick 

[Rises  and  crosses  to  her.] 

Ah,  my  love!  You  are  cruel.  You  are  and 
always  will  be  my  lovely  Peggy. 

Peg 

[She  looks  up  at  him  relenting.] 
David ! 

[68J 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


[Caressing  him.] 
You  shall  tell  me  everything  they  say  of  you. 

[They  cross  with  their  arms  around  one 
another's  waists  and  Garrick  sits  in  the 
easy  chair  by  the  fire,  while  Peg  sits  on  a 
little  stool  at  his  feet,  her  chin  in  her  hands, 
looking  into  the  firelight.] 

Garrick 

This  is  what  the  Daily  Post  has  to  say  of  me, 
Peggy. 
[Reads.] 

"His  reception  was  the  most  extraordinary  and 
great  that  was  ever  known  on  such  an  occa 
sion."  Aye,  it  was,  too,  Peggy — a  dozen  dukes 
at  the  least  computation  heard  me  last  night. 

Beg 

A  graceful  tribute,  David. 

Garrick 
Now  for  the  Champion. 

[Takes  up  another  newspaper.] 
"Mr.  Garrick's  voice  is  neither  whining,  bellow 
ing,  nor  grumbling,  but  natural  in  its  cadence." 
I  must  show  that  to  Quin,  Peggy.  Mark,  it 
says  "natural" ; — none  of  your  bellowing,  Quin, 
my  boy ! 

[69] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

You  will  not  convince  Quin  as  easily  as  you  have 
the  town. 

Garrick 

[Taking  up  a  paper.] 

Here's  another !  "There  was  not  one  in  the  house 
that  was  not  in  raptures,  and  I  heard  several 
men  of  judgment  declare  it  their  opinion  that 
nobody  ever  excelled  him."  Note — it  was 
men  of  judgment  who  said  this,  Peggy. 

Peg 
We  call  them  that  when  they  praise  us. 

Garrick 

Tush,  they  are  all  skilled  critics,  Peg.  See  this ! 
[Points  to  a  passage  in  the  paper.] 

Peg 

[Reads.] 

"We  are  surprised,  with  so  peculiar  a  genius, 
how  it  was  possible  for  him  to  keep  off  the 
stage  so  long."  Ah,  David,  it  makes  me 
almost  wish  you  were  not  a  genius. 

Garrick 
[Shock**.] 

And  why,  my  love? 

[70] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

You  will  think  me  very  foolish,  David, — but  it 
all  makes  me  a  little  jealous. 

Garrick 

What  absurdity!  Am  I  jealous  of  your  fame, 
Peggy?  Have  I  complained  because  you  are 
the  greatest  actress  in  England? 

Peg 

No — I  almost  wish  you  had!  Ah,  I  know  it  is 
nonsense  I  am  talking!  But,  David,  when  I 
think  of  two  famous  people  living  together 
in  the  same  house,  it  frightens  me.  There's 
scarce  room  left  for  love. 

Garrick 

But  think  how  unjust  you  are!  .  You  would 
only  have  one  of  us  famous — and  that  would 
have  to  be  yourself, — since  you  were  famous 
before  we  met.  This  is  selfish  of  you,  Peggy. 

Peg 
I  suppose  it  is,  David,  and  yet — 

Garrick 

And   yet!     Would   you   give   up   your   fame, — 
would  you  leave  the  stage  for  my  love  when 
I  entreated  you  to  do  it? 
[71] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[Softly.] 

No, — the  theatre  is  in  my  very  blood!  I  was 
almost  born  to  it.  I  remember  as  a  child  in 
Dublin,  when  I  was  almost  a  beggar — I  sold 
oranges  and  salad  in  the  streets  then,  David — 
one  day  I  passed  a  little  booth  and  I  paid  away 
the  penny  I  should  have  taken  home,  to  see 
the  show  inside.  A  Frenchwoman — Madame 
Violante  she  called  herself — was  performing 
on  the  tight  rope !  I  gaped  in  open-mouthed 
wonder  until  she  spied  me.  I  was  even 
prettier  then  than  I  am  now,  David,  although 
I  was  barefooted  and  in  rags. 

Garrick 

You  could  not  have  been  more  beautiful,  Peggy 
— I  won't  allow  that! 

Peg 

She  asked  me  if  I  would  like  to  join  her  troupe. 
It  seemed  as  if  Heaven  was  opening  before 
my  eyes, — to  escape  from  the  life  of  misery 
and  want — to  wear  spangles  and  pretty  clothes 
instead  of  rags — to  dance  in  a  glitter  of  light 
instead  of  crawling  home  to  a  dark  hovel ! 
From  that  hour  the  theatre  became  my  very 
life, — I  have  given  it  even  my  soul,  and  you 
ask  me  to  leave  the  stage! 
[72] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

No,  no,  Peggy,  I  see  it  is  impossible, — but  why, 
then,  complain  of  my  fame? 

Peg 

Because  the  theatre  did  not  seek  you  out;  be 
cause  even  with  all  your  fame  you  are  not  yet 
a  part  of  it.  You  had  another  life, — you  could 
have  been  happy  without  it — 

Garrick 
No,  Peggy,  it  was  stronger  than  I. 

Peg 

That  is  why  I  am  jealous  of  it!  It  is  going  to 
stand  between  us,  David!  As  your  fame 
grows  greater  and  greater,  my  love  will  mean 
less  and  less  to  you. 

Garrick 

Never,  Peggy,  on  my  faith  and  honor!  You 
shall  always  be  the  first  object  of  my  life. 

Peg 

[Shakes  her  head  and  smiles.} 
David — you    do   not    understand, — you    do    not 
realize  its  power. 

Garrick 

I  will  prove  to  you  that  I  am  right. 
[73] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Then  will  you  marry  me,  David,  at  once? 

Garrick 
If  you  insist! 

Peg 

[Rising.] 

If  I  insist! 

Garrick 

Nay,  I  mean  if  it  will  make  you  happier,  Peg. 
Listen  to  me,  my  love.  At  first  I  could  not 
marry  you — until  my  means  were  equal  to 
yours — you  agreed  to  that  ? 

Peg 
Yes. 

Garrick 

And  now  I  have  hesitated  to  disturb  our  idyl. 
We  are  so  happy — could  any  ceremony  do 
more  for  us  than  our  love  has  already  done? 

Peg 
I  want  to  feel  that  you  are  mine ! 

Garrick 

There  is  nothing  in  this  world  that  can  make 
our  love  more  true. 

[74] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

In  that  case,  you  will  not  deny  me  what  you 
consider  so  small  a  favor? 

Garrick 

'Faith,  Peggy,  I  have  all  along  intended  this  very 
thing;  nay,  let  me  convince  you. 
[Goes  to  a  desk  up  stage  R.,  opens  a  drawer 
and  takes  out  a  little 


Garrick 

[Coming  down  stage  again.} 
Guess  what  I  have  here,  Peggy  ! 

Peg 
[Fingering   a   miniature   which   hangs   by   a 

chain  about  her  neck.} 

Some  trinket,  another  miniature  perhaps,  —  to 
soothe  me  like  a  petulant  child! 

Garrick 

You  wrong  me,  Peg.  It  is  not  a  miniature  this 
time  —  though,  'faith  the  one  you  have  is  a 
token  of  our  first  love.  It's  the  very  ring 
itself! 

Peg 
David  ! 

Garrick 

Aye  —  now  you  are  well  punished  for  your 
doubts  ! 

[75] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Oh,  forgive  me,  David,  forgive  me!     I  am  so 
happy ! 

Garrick 
Will  you  try  the  ring  on  to  see  if  it  fits? 

Peg 

It's  bad  luck  to  do  that!     Measure  my  finger 
with  a  bit  of  string. 

Garrick 

Nonsense, — do  you   still  believe  in  these   Irish 
fables? 

Peg 

[Crosses  herself.] 
Hush! 

Garrick 
Come,  let  me  put  it  on  your  finger,  Peggy! 

Peg 

Will  you  promise  to  keep  away  the  bad  luck, 
David? 

Garrick 

[Draws  her  to  him.} 
No  harm  shall  ever  come  to  my  Peggy. 

[Slips  the  ring  on  to  her  finger.     She  shivers 
and  bursts  into  tears.] 
[76] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

I  am  frightened,  David! 

Garrick 

Be  reasonable!  What  harm  can  there  be  in  it? 
To  punish  you  for  such  superstitions, — you 
must  wear  it  all  the  evening.  It  will  proclaim 
my  resolve  ^to  our  guests  tonight. 

Peg     ,  •' 

Our  guests!     You've  made  me  so  happy  I  had 
forgotten  them.     Where's  Pompey?     I  must 
dress  me  quickly — or  I  shall  be  too  late! 
[Runs  to  a  bell  cord  and  pulls  it.     Enter  a 
little  black  boy  in  Oriental  dress.] 

Peg 

Quick,  Pompey!  Tell  Hodgson  to  prepare  the 
table  at  once!  And,  Pompey — fetch  the 
candles. 

Pompey 
Yes,  madam. 

[Bows  and  goes  out.] 

Garrick 

I  hope  you  have  not  been  extravagant  in  your 
preparations  ? 

Peg 

What  does  it  matter  this  once!     Think  of  the 
[77] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


occasion — to  celebrate  your  fame — and  this,  for 

me! 

[Holds  up  her  finger  with  the  ring  on  it.] 

Garrick 

Still  we  must  not  let  the  money  run  away  at  too 
fast  a  pace. 

Peg 

It  is  my  turn  to  pay  the  bills  this  month,  David, 
and  I  promise  you  shall  never  even  see  them. 
Do  not  be  uneasy  on  that  score. 
[Hastily  tidies  up  the  room.] 

Peg 
[Stopping  suddenly.] 

David — I   had   almost   forgotten   something  im 
portant  !    Happiness  drove  it  out  of  my  head. 
[Goes  to  dresisng  table.] 

See — I  have  a  present  for  you — a  gift  to  bring 
you  luck,  because  I  bought  it  to  mark  your 
success  at  Drury  Lane. 
[Opens  box.] 

Diamond  shoe  buckles! 

Garrick 
Diamonds!     Peggy,  you'll  be  ruined! 

Peg 

I  bought  them  with  my  own  salary — twenty  Sir 
[78] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Harry  Wildairs  went  to  the  making  of  them, 
— but  what  did  I  care,  if  they  were  for  you ! 

Garrick 

[Takes  them  and  kisses  her.] 
My  child !     You  are  recklessly  extravagant ! 

Peg 
Don't  scold  me! 

Garrick 
Scold  you?    I  can  forgive  you  anything,  Peggy. 

Peg 

[Slowly,  her  mood  changing  suddenly.} 
There's  another  reason  why  your  ring  has  made 
me  so  happy. 

Garrick 
What  do  you  mean? 

Peg 

You  must  protect  me  now,  David,  from  the  im 
portunities  of  the  green  room  loungers.  Sir 
Charles  has  never  ceased  his — his  attentions. 
He  follows  me — oh,  it's  intolerable,  David! 
I  did  not  care  to  speak  of  it  until  you  gave  me 
this.  I  had  no  claim  on  your  protection.  But 
you  must  help  me,  David — you  must  save  me 
from  myself! 

[79] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 
[Gravely.] 

I  am  glad  you  told  me.    When  did  you  see  Sir 
Charles  last? 

Peg 
Oh,  not  for  an  age! 

Garrick 
,And  when  was  that  ? 

Peg 
This — this  morning — at  rehearsal. 

Garrick 
This  morning  ?    You  said  it  was  an  age ! 

Peg 

[Demurely.] 

It  seemed  so,  David — because  I  didn't  see  you  all 
day! 

Garrick 

Leave  it  all  to  me,  my  love.    I  will  see  that  you 
are  spared  further  annoyance. 
[Enter  Pompey  with  stiver  candelabra  con 
taining   lighted    candles.      He   places   them 
about  the  room.     Hodgson,  the  butler,  fol 
lows  him   and   they   begin  to  prepare   the 
table.] 

Peg 

[Curtseying  with  mock  formality.] 
[80] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Will  Mr.  David  Garrick  excuse  me  while  I  go  to 
put  on  another  dress. 

[He  bows  in  return,  and  she  runs,  laughing, 
out  the  door,  R.] 

Garrick 
[To  Pompey.] 

Snuff  that  candle,  Pompey.  Can't  you  see  it  is 
burning  wastefully? 

[Pompey  obeys.     Garrick  scrutinizes  the  ar 
rangement  of  the  table.} 

Garrick 
Sweetmeats,  Hodgson,  for  supper! 

Hodgson 
Mrs.  Woffington's  commands,  sir. 

Garrick 

Lord,  what  extravagance!  Remember,  Hodg 
son,  when  it  is  my  month  to  pay  the  bills,  you 
are  on  no  account  to  serve  sweetmeats  at 
supper. 

Hodgson 
Very  well,  sir. 

[A  loud  knocking  is  heard  at  the  outer  door.] 

Garrick 

Show  the  gentleman  in  here  directly,  Hodgson. 
[81] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Hodgson 
Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  and  returning,  ushers  in  Charles 
Macklin.] 

Macklin 

Ah,  Davy,  my  boy !    And  how  does  it  feel  to  be 
famous,  sir? 

Garrick 

To  tell  the  truth,  Macklin,  it  feels  very  little  dif 
ferent  from  being  a  wine-merchant. 

Macklin 
[Sits   in   front    of   the   fire   and   warms   his 

hands.] 

Aye,  there's  no  end  to  either  position.  By  the 
bye,  Davy,  where's  Mrs.  Woffington? 

Garrick 
She  will  join  us  later. 

Macklin 

Well,  I  confess  that  I  hardly  expected  Peg  to 
turn  out  a  pattern  of  domestic  virtue,  eh, 
Garrick ! 

Garrick 
Sir,  I  do  not  know  what  you  mean. 

Macklin 

Only  the  impertinence  of  an  old  friend.     How 
long  is  this — er — to  continue? 
[82] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Garrick 

Upon  my  word,  sir,  you  take  strange  liberties 
with  our  friendship. 

Macklin 

No  offence,  Davy,  no  offence!  You  have  been 
living  together  about  six  months  now? 

Garrick 

Ever  since  we  began  the  season  together  in 
Dublin  last  summer. 

Macklin 

Ah.  You  saw  nothing  of  Sir  Charles  Hanbury 
Williams  in  Ireland,  I  presume? 

Garrick 
Damme,  Macklin,  what  are  you  driving  at? 

Macklin 

My  boy,  when  you  have  been  on  the  stage  as 
long  as  I  have, — why,  you  will  not  have  so 
many  illusions  left.  You  believe  seriously  that 
this  woman  loves  you? 

Garrick 

Yes.  Whatever  she  may  have  been  once,  she  is 
now  the  soul  of  honor. 

Macklin 

Davy,  beware  the  leopard's  spots!     Tis  not  the 
animal  intended  for  domesticity. 
[83] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Garrick 

Confound    your    cynicism,     sir!       You — you — 
you've  quite  spoiled  my  temper. 

Macklin 

Tush!     Take  care,  Davy,  that  you  don't  spoil 
your  whole  life. 

Garrick 

The  lady  against  whom  you  are  trying  to  poison 
my  mind,  sir,  is  going  to  become  my  wife! 

Macklin 
[Jumps  up,] 
Good  God,  Davy !    Are  you  serious  ? 

Garrick 
Never  more  so. 

Macklin 
In  that  event,  I  will  say  no  more. 

[Offers  his  hand.] 
I  trust  that  you  will  never  have  cause  to  repent 

your  judgment. 

[Garrick  takes  his  hand.] 

Garrick 

Are    you    keeping    anything    back    from    me, 
Macklin  ? 

Macklin 

Nothing  positive.    Only  some  advice  which  you 
do  not  seem  inclined  to  take. 
[84] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Garrick 

You  have  no  assertion  which  you  are  prepared 
to  prove? 

Macklin 

None  but  gossip — and  you  know  the  value  of 
that  as  well  as  I.  But  if  Hamlet  were  here 
today  instead  of  "frailty,  thy  name  is  woman," 
he  would  say,  "frailty,  thy  name  is  Woffing- 
ton!" 

Garrick 
Change  it  to  "was"  and  I  grant  it. 

Macklin 

Sir  Charles  was  at  the  rehearsal  this  morning — 
during  your  absence. 

Garrick 

She  has  already  told  me  that — and  begged  me 
to  protect  her  from  his  unwelcome  attentions. 

Macklin 

The  clever  Irish  jade!  Davy,  I'm  a  descendant 
of  an  Irish  king  myself,  and  know  my  own 
country-people  as  no  Sassenach  ever  can. 
And  beware  of  blarney  in  whatever  form  you 
find  it. 

Garrick 

Mr.  Macklin,  only  our  long  friendship  and  your 
age  has  made  me  listen  to  you  with  patience, 
but  the  latter  is  fast  becoming  exhausted. 
[85] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Macklin 

My  only  defence  is  my  interest  in  your  welfare. 
I  shall  continue  to  have  that  admiration  for 
Mrs.  Woffington  which  I  have  always  shown 
her.  You  need  not  be  uneasy — and  I'll  con 
tradict  the  malice  of  the  town  whenever  I 
hear  it. 

Garrick 
A  glass  of  wine,  sir? 

Macklin 
[Rising.] 
Sir,  if  you  please ! 

[Garrick  pours  two  glasses  of  wine  and  they 
drink  to  one  another  with  great  solemnity. 
A  loud  knocking  is  heard,  off,  and  in  a 
moment  Hodgson  ushers  in  Dr.  Samuel 
Johnson.] 

Hodgson 
[Announcing.] 
Dr.  Samuel  Johnson. 

[The  latter  enters  noisily,  puffing  and  stamp 
ing  his  feet.  His  hat  he  hands  to  Hodgson, 
but  his  heavy  stick  he  keeps  with  him.] 

Garrick 

Sir,   welcome  to  my  house.     This,   sir,   is   Mr. 
Macklin,  of  whom  you  have  heard  me  speak. 
A  fellow  actor  and  comedian. 
[86] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Johnson 

Sir,   fortune  has  tempted  you  to  a  luxury  not 

becoming  your  position  in  society. 

[Surveying  the  room.] 
When  I  came  up  to  London  with  Davy,  I  had 

only  twopence  halfpenny  in  my  pocket. 

Garrick 

Eh?  What  do  you  say?  With  twopence  half 
penny  in  your  pocket? 

Johnson 

Why,  yes ;  and  thou,  Davy,  with  three  halfpence 
in  thine. 

Garrick 

You  do  not  allow,  sir,  any  reward  to  merit? 
Johnson 

Why,  yes,  sir,  I  do.  But  a  stage  player  has  no 
merit.  He  is  a  parasite.  You  exist  by  repeat 
ing  the  thoughts  of  others  and  have  none  of 
your  own.  You  have  a  kind  of  rant,  with 
which  you  run  on,  without  any  regard  either 
to  accent  or  emphasis. 

Garrick 

Sir,  Mr.  Macklin  and  myself  I  hold  to  be  better 
judges  of  this  art  than  you. 
[87] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Johnson 

Well,  now,  I'll  give  you  something  to  speak,  with 
which  you  are  little  acquainted,  and  then  we 
shall  see  how  just  my  observation  is.  Let  me 
hear  you  repeat  the  ninth  Commandment. 

Garrick 

"Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy 
neighbor." 

Johnson 

Wrong,  sir!    Wrong!    The  accent  should  come 
equally  upon  the  words  "shalt"  and  "not." 
[Chuckles  and  stamps  with  his  cane.] 

You  are  not  too  old  to  take  a  lesson  from  me 
still,  Davy. 

Garrick 

You  must  come  to  the  green  room  more  often 
that  we  may  benefit  by  your  critical  taste. 

Johnson 

Nay,   Davy,   I'll  come  no  more  to  your  green 
room.     The  white  bosoms  and  silk  stockings 
of  your  actresses  arouse  my  amorous  spirit. 
[He  renews  his  survey  of  the  room.     Picks 
up  a  handsome  china  cup  on  the  table.] 

Garrick 

Pray,  be  careful,  sir,  of  that  cup,  as  you  are  not 
accustomed  to  handling  fine  china. 
[88] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Johnson 

[Dropping  it  and  letting  it  smash.] 
Sir,  I  smashed  your  cup  as  a  lesson  to  you  that 
such  things  have  no  value  in  themselves  but 
only    a    fictitious    worth    which   vanity   gives 
them. 

[Stamps  over  to  the  mantle  piece  and  takes 
the  china  sphinx  with  Peg  Woffington's 
head  on  it  off  the  shelf.] 

Garrick 
Sir,  I  implore  you  not  to  break  that  as  well ! 

Johnson 

[Holding  it  up  and  looking  at  it  critically.] 
I  have  too  much  respect,  sir,  for  a  woman  to 
imperil  even  her  image.    A  very  good  likeness 
of  Mrs.  Woffington! 

Macklin 

Aye,  these  china  figures  are  the  fashion  at  pres 
ent.  And  Mrs.  Wofftngton  decrees  the  fash 
ion  for  all  the  town. 

Johnson 

And   Davy   here   appears   to   follow   all   of    its 

decrees ! 

[Changing  the  subject — to  Garrick] 
Sir,  have  you  perused  my  play? 
[89] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

[Goes  to  the  desk  and  returns  with  a  manu 
script.] 

Dr.  Johnson,  I  have  studied  your  tragedy 
" Irene"  carefully  and  regret  that,  in  its  pres 
ent  form,  it  is  not  possible  to  produce  it. 

Johnson 
How  not  possible? 

Garrick 
I  mean  without  certain  alterations. 

Johnson 

Alterations,  sir?  I  will  never  consent,  sir,  to 
any  alterations  whatever. 

Garrick 

I  would  suggest  that  if  Mahomet  were  to  go 
mad  at  last — and  if  a  new  title  could  be 
found — 

Johnson 

Sir,  I  will  not  listen  to  you! 
[To  Macklin.] 

I  cannot  bear  that  my  tragedy  should  be  revised 
and  altered  at  the  pleasure  of  an  actor.  Sir, 
the  fellow  wants  me  to  make  Mahomet  run 
mad,  that  he  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
tossing  his  hands  and  kicking  his  heels  in 
playing  it. 

[90] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


[A  knock  at  the  door,  off.  Enter  Hodgson, 
followed  by  James  Quin  and  George  Anne 
Bellamy.} 

Hodgson 
[Announcing.} 
Mrs.  Bellamy!     Mr.  Quin! 

[They  enter  and  exchange  greetings.  Pom- 
pey  enters  bringing  more  candles.} 

Garrick 

Pompey,  inform  your  mistress  that  our  guests 
await  her  pleasure. 
[Pompey  goes  out  door,  right.} 

Quin 

[To  Garrick} 

Sir,    I    felicitate  you   upon   your   triumph   and 
trust  that  the  past  may  be  forgotten. 

Garrick 
With  all  my  heart! 

[They  bow.  Enter  Peg  Woffington,  radiantly 
beautiful  in  a  magnificent  dress.  All  turn 
to  greet  her} 

Macklin 
Madam,  your  devoted  slave! 

[Kisses  her  hand.     Quin  does  the  same} 

Bellamy 

[Embracing  her.} 

Ma  chere!     How  beautiful  you  are! 
[91] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

What  a  superb  dress,  my  dear!  Such  charming 
taste ! 

[Dr.  Johnson  alone  remains  seated.  Peg 
goes  to  him.] 

Peg 

Dr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Garrick  and  I  are  indeed 
honored  by  your  visit. 

Johnson 

Madam,  the  honor  is  of  small  consequence. 
[Hodgson  enters.] 

Hodgson 
[Announcing.] 

Supper  is  served. 

[Peg  seats  herself  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
with  Dr.  Johnson  on  her  right.  Garrick 
is  at  the  other  end,  with  Mrs.  Bellamy  next 
to  him.  Macklin  and  Quin  are  between 
Bellamy  and  Dr.  Johnson,  facing  the  au 
dience.  Hodgson  and  Pompey  together 
serve  the  supper.  A  large  silver  tea-urn  is 
placed  in  front  of  Peg.] 

Quin 

Faith,  I'm  vastly  sorry,  Macklin,  that  your  last 
comedy  didn't  bring  you  more  pleasure  and 
profit.  • 

[92] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Macklin 

I'm  much  obliged,  but  the  public  taste  has  been 
spoiled  for  originality  by  the  plagiarized  rub 
bish  forced  down  its  throat. 

Garrick 

When  may  we  hope  to  have  a  comedy  from  your 
pen,  Quin? 

Quin 

What  is  the  use  of  my  writing  a  comedy,  when 
we  have  no  actors  today  to  play  it? 

Macklin 

Why,  there's  Garrick  here  and  myself — not  to 
mention  the  ladies — 

Quin 

I  know  your  dramatis  persona  well  enough,  but 
damme,  where  are  your  actors? 

Peg 
A  cup  of  tea,  Mr.  Quin? 

Quin 
Madam,  with  pleasure. 

[The  cup  is  passed  to  him.] 

Johnson 

Sir,  may  I  ask  you  if  the  world  revolves  around 
the  stage? 

[93] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 
Why,  sir,  what  do  you  mean? 

Johnson 

To  listen  to  the  conversation  since  coming  to 
this  house  one  would  think  so.  Whereas  a 
player,  sir,  is  a  fellow  who  claps  a  hump  on 
his  back,  and  a  lump  on  his  leg,  and  cries  "I 
am  Richard  the  Third." 

Peg 

Dr.  Johnson,  may  I  offer  you  a  cup  of  tea? 
[He  bows  and  she  hands  him  a  cup.] 

Macklin 
[To  Johnson.] 

And  where,  sir,  is  your  friend  Mr.  Boswell  this 
evening  ? 

Johnson 
Sir,  I  came  to  this  house  for  relaxation. 

Bellamy 

Dr.  Johnson,  it  seems  wonderful  to  me  that  a 
man  could  think  of  enough  words  to  make  a 
dictionary. 

Garrick 

Madam,    it   took    forty   Frenchmen  to  write  a 
dictionary  of  that  language : 
[94] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Talk  of  war  with  a  Briton,  he'll  boldly  advance 
That    one    English    soldier    will    beat    ten    of 

France  ; 
Would  we  alter  the  boast  from  the  sword  to 

the  pen, 

Our  odds  are  still  greater,  still  greater  our  men  ; 
And  Johnson,  well  arm'd  like  a  hero  of  yore, 
Has   beat   forty   French,   and   will   beat   forty 

more! 

[All  applaud  and  Johnson,  who  is  not  deaf  to 
flattery,  is  obviously  pleased.] 

Quin 

[To  Gar  rick.] 
Sir,  did  you  make  that  up  extempore? 


Mr.  Quin,  epigrams  are  like  woman's  beauty  — 
they  should  be  judged  by  their  effect.  Let  the 
source  of  both  remain  a  mystery. 

Macklin 

In  that  case,  madam,  you  forbid  us  to  ask 
whether  nature  or  art  is  the  more  important? 

Peg         '        :    ".•   ,,. 
For  the  making  of  epigrams? 

Macklin 

No,  madam,  for  a  woman's  beauty. 
[95] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Nature  gives  us  the  garden,  but  art  waters  it, 
sir. 

Quin 

Dr.  Johnson,  sir,  what  is  your  opinion  of  our 
dramatic  critics? 

Johnson 

Why,  sir,  that  a  critic  may  spend  his  time  more 
profitably  in  his  library  than  at  the  theatre. 

Macklin 

Critics?  There  are  a  few  doers  of  news 
papers,  who  call  themselves  critics,  that  may 
still  be  found  in  upper  boxes — but  they  re 
serve  their  criticisms  for  the  newspapers  of 
the  next  day;  where  they  come  out  in  col 
umns,  sir — columns,  often  disgraceful  as  to 
truth,  as  they  are  ignorant  of  the  rules  of 
science. 

Quin 

Aye,  in  our  time  the  audiences  were  judicious. 
We  had  few  riots  and  disorders  such  as  are 
now  common  at  our  playhouses. 

Bellamy 

Is  nothing  better  now  than  it  used  to  be? 
[96] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Quin 

Nothing,  madam.     We  live  in  a  degenerate  age. 
The  acting  of  today  is  heresy. 

Garrick 

Pope  Quin  damns  all  Churches  but  his  own. 
When  Doctrines  meet  with  general  approbation, 
It  is  not  heresy,  but  reformation. 

Macklin 
Hear,  hear !    Sir,  your  health ! 

[All  rise.] 
I  drink  to 

Roscius,  Paris  of  the  stage, 
Born  to  please  a  learned  age! 

All 

To  Roscius!  Garrick!  etc. 
[They  drink  and  sit  again.] 

Garrick 
[Rising.] 
My  friends,  I  thank  you. 

All 
Hear,  hear! 

Garrick 

[Sips  a  cup  of  tea.] 

Madam,  this  tea  is  as  red  as  blood!    It  is  need 
less  waste  to  make  it  so  strong ! 
[97] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 
You  can  retrieve  the  loss,  sir,  next  month ! 

Garrick 

[Picks   up    a   wine-glass    and    addresses    the 

table.] 

I  shall  take  this  opportunity  to  propose  another 
health— that  of  Mrs.  Woffington!— 

All 
Hear,  hear! 

Garrick 

Mrs.    Woffington — my   lovely    Peggy — who   has 
honored  me  with  the  promise  of  her  hand — to 
the  future  Mrs.  Garrick! 
[General  applause.] 

Garrick 

With  your  permission — we'll  celebrate  the  event 
with  a  few  verses,  which  I  have  kept  as  a  sur 
prise  for  lovely  Peggy. 
[Clears  his  throat  and  chants.] 

Once  more  I'll  tune  my  vocal  shell, 
To  hills  and  dales  my  passion  tell, 
A  flame  which  time  may  never  quell, 
That  burns  for  lovely  Peggy. 

The  sun  first  rising  in  the  morn, 
That  paints  the  dew-bespangled  thorn, 
Doth  not  so  much  the  day  adorn 
As  does  my  lovely  Peggy. 
[98] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


All 
Bravo !     Bravo ! 

[They  rise  and  pick  up  their  glasses.] 
To  lovely  Peggy! 

Garrick 

[As  they  drink.] 

While  bees  from  flowers  to  flowers  rove, 
And  linnets  warble  through  the  grove, 
Or  stately  swans  the  waters  love, 
So  long  shall  I  love  Peggy. 

[At  the  conclusion  of  the  song,  Garrick 
drains  his  glass  and  snaps  the  stem.  The 
others  do  likewise,  and  Peggy,  very  happy 
and  charming  in  her  confusion,  rises  to 
reply.] 

Peg 

My  friends — we  poor  players  are  so  accus 
tomed  to  have  words  put  into  our  mouths 
for  us, — that  we  lack  words  of  our  own. 
What  can  I  say  more  than  that  I  am  happy? 
Happy  in  our  love — and  happy  in  the  triumph 
which  has  been  David's  on  the  stage.  Alex 
ander  sighed  for  more  worlds  to  conquer.  I 
am  happy  in  having  conquered  a  woman's 
world — which  is  love.  I  sigh  for  no  more. 
In  future  this  house  will  be  my  world,  an 
empire  wide  enough  for  me,  and  when  the  cur 
tain  falls — as  some  day  it  must — for  the  last 
[99] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


time — I  will  be  content  if  I  played  my  part 
well.    Once  more,  dear  friends,  I — I  thank  you. 
[Sits    amid   general    cheers.      Both   she    and 
Garrick  are  much  moved.] 

Johnson 

Madam,  permit  me  to  offer  my  felicitations.     I 
have  known  Davy   Garrick  longer  than  you 
have.    He  has  wit  and  genius — and  I  know  him 
to  have  a  heart. 
[Rises  from  his  chair.] 

And  now,  madam,  I  must  bid  you  adieu.  I  am 
not  accustomed  to  the  late  hours  which  com 
pose  the  actor's  day.  Madam,  your  humble  and 
obedient. 

[Peg  rises  as  do  the  rest  of  the  company.  Dr. 
Johnson  stamps  toward  the  door  L.  fol 
lowed  by  Garrick,  amid  the  farewells  of 
the  others.  At  the  door  he  again  pauses  and 
bows  with  dignity,  and  then  goes  out.} 

Bellamy 

[Crosses  to  Peg.] 

Mrs.  Woffington — I  wish  you  every  happiness 
and  joy. 

Peg 

You  are  very  kind,  my  child.     Let  us  forget  all 
the  little  differences  of  the  past.    Will  you  for 
give  me  my  former  rudeness  ? 
[100] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Bellamy 
With  all  my  heart ! 

[They  kiss  and  Quin  and  Macklin  also  come  up 
and  kiss  Peg's  hand.] 

Bellamy 
Good  night,  Mrs.  Woffington. 

Peg 
Good  night ! 

Quin 

Madam,  I  am  a  crusty  old  bachelor  with  a  sharp 
tongue, — but  you  may  count  me  your  friend. 

Peg 

I  will,  Mr.  Quin,  I  will. 

[Quin  escorts  Mrs.  Bellamy  to  the  door.  Gar- 
rick  sees  them  out.  Macklin  stands  by  Peg 
talking  to  her  as  they  go.] 

Macklin 

Madam,  remember  that  happiness  is  hard  to  win 
and  easy  to  lose.  It  also  entails  mutual  obliga 
tions.  One  cannot  be  happy  alone.  You  are  in 
love  with  genius. 

Peg 
You  speak  like  Sir  Oracle! 

Macklin 

I  am.    I  have  lived,  Mrs.  Woffington.    They  call 
me  a  man  of  the  last  century. 
[101] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[Roguishly.] 

I  have  heard  they  called  you  the  Wild  Irishman ! 

Macklin 
That  too. 

Peg 

But  what  is  this  riddle  you  have  propounded  to 
me? 

Macklin 

Madam,  you  must  guess  the  answer  for  yourself. 

[Bows.] 
Good  night. 

[As  he  goes,  Hodgson  and  Pompey  rapidly 
clear  the  table.  Peg  sits  in  the  chair  before 
the  fire  and  Garrick  returns  to  her.] 

Peg 
What  an  odd  character  Macklin  is! 

Garrick 
[Starts.] 

Why  do  you  say  that,  Peggy? 

Peg 

He  has  been  speaking  to  me  in  riddles.  I  could 
not  understand  what  he  meant.  He  warned 
me  to  take  care — of  what,  David — do  you 
know? 

[102] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

Give  it  no  thought,  Peggy.  He  likes  to  affect 
the  cynic. 

Peg 

He  frightened  me — I  don't  know  why.  You  love 
me,  David? 

Garrick 
Can  you  ask  ? 

Peg 

I  am  foolish — forgive  me — but  it  is  such  joy  to 
hear  you  say  it. 

[The  servants  go  out,  having  completed  the 
clearing  of  the  table,  which  they  shove  back 
up  stage,  leaving  more  of  the  center  clear.] 

Garrick 

My  angel! 

[Kisses  her  hand.} 

I — I  must  leave  you  awhile  now,  Peggy.  I  have 
an  appointment  at  the  Bedford, — it  is  on  busi 
ness  connected  with  the  theatre. 

Peg 

I  shall  come  to  hate  the  theatre,  David!  It  is 
always  coming  between  us  and  stealing  away 
our  most  precious  moments. 

Garrick 
[Consults  his  watch.} 

[103] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


I  will  not  be  long,  dearest.    It  is  very  late. 
[Kisses  her  on  the  forehead  and  goes,  leaving 

her  sitting  before  the  fire.} 
[Enter   after   a   brief  pause,    Pompey.      He 

comes  forward  mysteriously.} 

Pompey 
Missis! 

[Peg  starts.     She  had  not  been  aware  of  his 
entrance.} 

Peg 
How  you  startled  me,  Pompey!    What  is  it? 

Pompey 
Sh!     Master  gone  away? 

Peg 

Your  master  has  gone  to  the  Bedford. 
Pompey 

Then  me  give  you  this. 

[Produces  a  note   with   an   air   of   triumph. 
Peg  takes  it.} 

Peg 
Who  gave  you  this,  Pompey? 

Pompey 

Fine  gentleman!     Gave  Pompey  a  guinea— all 
— he   said  take  note  Mrs.  Woffington— 

[104] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


your  mistress — give  it  her  when  she  alone — or 
he  break  every  bone  in  Pompey's  body! 

Peg 

You  may  go,  Pompey. 

Pompey 

Thank  you,  missis. 
[Goes  out  door,  L.] 

Peg 

[When  he  has  gone,  breaks  the  seal  and  goes 
to  a  candle  to  read  it.] 

To  the  beautiful  but  cruel  Mrs.  Woffington. 
The  man  you  believe  perfect  and  who  tells 
you  of  his  love,  has  a  different  tale  to  tell 
behind  your  back.  Ask  the  beautiful  V.  who 
dances  at  Drury  Lane,  if  she  knows  one 
David  Garrick.  (Signed)  C. 

It's  monstrous !  It's  a  lie !  It's  another  trick  of 
Sir  Charles.  Does  he  think  he  can  trap  me 
so  easily? 

[She  starts  to  burn  the  letter  at  the  fire;  then 
hesitates  and  puts  it  in  her  bosom.  She  sits 
again  in  the  large  armchair  with  her  back 
to  the  door  L.  The  latter  is  quietly 
opened  and  Sir  Charles  glides  noiselessly 
into  the  room,  after  closing  the  door  care 
fully  behind  him.  He  tiptoes  to  the  chair, 
stoops  suddenly  and  kisses  Peg.  She 
springs  to  her  feet  with  a  scream.] 
[105] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 
You! 

Sir  Charles 
Yes,  my  soul's  idol,  it  is  I. 

Peg 

How  dare  you  force  your  way  in  here !    My  ser 
vants  shall  throw  you  into  the  street. 
[Rushes  toward  bell  rope.] 

Sir  Charles 

It  would  be  folly  to  inform  them  of  my  presence. 
They  would  undoubtedly  communicate  the 
fact  to  Mr.  Garrick. 

Peg 

[Pausing.] 
How  did  you  get  in? 

Sir  Charles 

I  have  been  watching  from  the  street.  Mr. 
Garrick  is  careless — very  careless.  He  left 
the  front  door  ajar. 

Peg 
You  must  leave  this  house  instantly. 

Sir  Charles 

Pardon  me,  I  will  leave  it  when  I  choose. 
[Pours  himself  a  glass  of  wine.] 
[-106] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


To  our  future  meetings ! 
[Drinks.] 

Peg 

[Takes  hold  of  bell  rope.] 

I  will  ring  for  help  then !  I'll  tell  how  you 
forced  your  way  in  here — 

Sir  Charles 

I  would  not  risk  it,  Peg.  Really,  I  wouldn't. 
Mr.  Gar  rick  is  a  jealous  man — and  I  might 
remind  you  that  he  has  had  cause  to  be 
jealous  of  me  before. 

Peg 

[Pauses  by  the  bell.} 
You  are  a  monster — a  beast ! 

Sir  Charles 
[Continues  to  drink.} 

A    basilisk — or    what   you    will.      By    the   bye, 
Peggy,  it  was  very  careless  of  you  in  the  old 
days  to  send  me  love  letters  undated. 
[Takes  out  one  or  two  letters.} 

I  have  some  with  me  to  which  I  have  been 
careful  to  have  the  date  added — a  recent  date, 
you  understand?  Now  ring  the  bell,  for  I  am 
anxious  to  show  these  letters  to  friend  Davy 
myself.  Let  us  send  Pompey  to  the  Bedford 
to  fetch  him. 

[107] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

You  are  heartless ! 

Sir  Charles 

[All  through  this  scene  he  is  gradually  be 
coming  intoxicated.] 

As  heartless  now  as  you  have  been  to  me. 
Madam,  you  were  pleased  to  throw  me  over 
for  a  wine-merchant.  You  are  now  to  reap 
the  consequences  of  your  folly. 

Peg 
Have  you  no  pity?    Will  nothing  move  you? 

Sir  Charles 

Nothing.  I  have  not  come  to  make  terms  but 
to  demand  them.  If  you  become  my  mistress 
again —  * 

Peg 

I  never  was  your  mistress — 

Sir  Charles 

I  prefer  to  call  it  that — the  world  would  see  little 
distinction  in  these  titles.  What  it  believed 
you  to  be  before,  by  Heaven,  I'm  going  to 
make  you  now ! 

Peg 

And  if  I  refuse? 

[108] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

In  that  case  I  will  put  these  letters  into  Garrick's 
hands. 

Peg 

Do  it !  I  defy  you.  If  you  are  so  base  as  to  ruin 
my  life  because  I  was  once  fool  enough  to 
trust  you,  do  it!  But  you  won't  conquer  me 
though  you  overturn  my  castle! 

Sir  Charles 

You  lack  the  courage  to  resist  me.  I  will  break 
you  down,  Peg.  You  love  praise  and  flattery 
— you  cannot  live  without  them.  It's  your 
very  life.  I'll  give  you  both.  Garrick  is 
growing  tired  of  you. 
[Peg  winces.] 

Ah,  that  went  home  did  it?  You  received  my 
note,  I  see. 

Peg 

I  received  your  lies  which  you  bribed  my  servant 
to  give  me.  But  they  are  lies.  See  this  ring! 
It  was  placed  on  my  finger  today  and  if  you 
dare  to  tell  your  lies  to  my  husband,  he'll  kill 
you! 

Sir  Charles 

Your  husband! 
[Laughs.] 

Where  may  I  go  to  hear  the  banns  read?     Eh, 
[109] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peggy?  The  gift  appears  to  me  suited  to  the 
well-known  parsimony  of  our  friend!  Send 
it  to  the  jewelers  and  make  certain  it  isn't 
brass ! 

Peg 

Our  betrothal  was  announced  to  our  friends  in 
this  very  room  tonight. 

Sir  Charles 

Aye,  that's  it,  Peggy,  my  dear.  David  has  many 
friends  but  no  friend.  If  you  don't  believe 
me,  watch  him  for  yourself.  Have  you  seen 
the  fair  Mademoiselle  Violette?  Ah,  I  see 
you  know  her. 

Peg 

What  of  that? 

Sir  Charles 

Simply  this.  Your — er — what  is  it  you  call  him 
— ah,  yes,  husband — wasn't  that  what  you 
said?  Husband  has  a  pleasant  sound! — Well, 
your  husband — no,  hang  it,  I  won't  call  him 
that!  Mr.  Punch,  the  play-actor,  knows 
Mademoiselle  Violette. 

Peg 

It  is  not  surprising.    She  dances  at  Drury  Lane. 

Sir  Charles 

She'll  lead  him  a  dance,  never  you  fear,  and  you, 
too,  Peggy. 

[110] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

Because  you  are  incapable  of  honor  yourself, 
you  impute  dishonor  to  everyone  else. 

Sir  Charles 

No,  Peg,  you're  wrong  there.  You  can  see  for 
yourself  that  vanity  is  devouring  him.  Pretty 
women  by  the  dozen  are  at  his  feet.  It  takes 
a  greater  man  that  Davy  Garrick  to  say,  "get 
you  behind  me,  ladies."  I  know  you  both, 
Peg.  You  won't  tolerate  Davy — because 
you've  let  him  make  a  fool  of  you.  And  he 
will  weary  of  you  because  you  were  the  first — 
and  no  famous  man  ever  lives  with  his  first 
love! 
[Laughs  at  his  own  joke.] 

Confess,  Peggy,  you  are  beginning  to  believe 
me  in  the  right? 

Peg 

No!    It  is  all  lies  from  beginning  to  end! 

Sir  Charles 

There !  You  see  you  know  what  to  expect  from 
me.  But  with  a  man  like  Punch  you  never 
know  where  to  look  for  him  next.  I  saw  your 
Garrick  and  this  Mademoiselle  Violette  in  the 
green  room  the  other  day,  whispering  behind 
her  fan. 

[Ill] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

If  you  hope  to  make  me  jealous,  you  are  wasting 
your  breath. 

Sir  Charles 

Very  well,  we'll  grant  him  Mademoiselle  Violette. 
Nay,  Peggy,  you  shall  listen  to  me!  I  love 
you — I  tell  you  I  do !  Damme,  I've  known  too 
many  women  not  to  pick  a  thoroughbred  when 
I  see  one.  You've  wit  and  pluck,  too,  by  Jove, 
beauty — everything  I  want.  The  conjunction 
is  a  rare  one.  I  can  pick  you  a  dozen  pretty 
faces  and  a  dozen  witty  minds,  but  they  don't 
often  go  together.  There's  Bellamy — a  doll — 
pretty,  if  you  like — none  prettier — but,  Peggy, 
the  girl  is  intolerably  dull — silly — vain — 
affected.  I  made  her  a  present  of  two  hundred 
pounds  and  bowed  myself  out. 
[Sits  in  a  chair  and  stretches  himself  com 
fortably.] 

What  a  soundless  depth  between  the  Bellamy 
and  you!  You  know,  I  have  leisure  to  appre 
ciate  a  woman. — I've  no  occupation  to  use  up 
my  life  and  its  most  precious  moments.  I've 
my  estate,  a  baronetcy  is  a  comfortable,  incon 
spicuous  title.  One  is  not  expected  to  be 
famous  if  one  is  merely  a  baronet. 

Peg 

You  seem  to  prefer  to  be  infamous. 
[112] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

You  do  me  wrong,  Peg,  'pon  my  honor,  you  do. 
I  confess  I  seek  pleasure  where  I  can  find  it — 
but  through  it  all  runs  my  love  for  you — like 
the  burden  of  a  song.  Egad,  you  make  me 
serious.  It's  a  compliment,  Peg.  No  other 
woman  can  do  it. 

Peg 
Sir,  your  insolence  and  conceit — 

Sir  Charles 

Ah,  I  know  all  about  them,  too.  But  I'm  not  in 
love  with  fame — I'm  not  in  love  with  vanity — 
and  that  play-acting  fellow  is!  I'm  in  love 
with  you — but  he's  in  love  with  himself. 

Peg 

Won't  you  go,  sir?  Haven't  you  tortured  me 
enough  ? 

Sir  Charles 

Go?  Not  I.  You  compel  me  to  stay.  I  wish 
to  show  Mr.  Garrick  some  private  correspond 
ence. 

[Takes  another  glass  of  wine.] 

Peg 

I — I  am  fighting  hard  to  do  my  duty, — and  you 
come  here  as  if  to  punish  me  for  my  sins! 
Will  you  take  this  last  opportunity  from  me  to 
[113] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


redeem  myself  ?  I  love  David  Garrick.  What 
am  I  to  you?  There  are  a  dozen  women  who 
can  give  you  more  than  I  can, — you  have 
wealth,  power,  everything.  As  for  me,  I  was 
a  beggar  girl  once, — why  should  you  even 
stoop  to  notice  me?  You  have  your  own 
world  to  live  in.  Leave  me  to  live  in  mine. 
Mr.  Garrick  says  he  loves  me  and  will  marry 
me.  Would  yeu  do  the  same  ? 

Sir  Charles 
[Drinking.] 

Marry  you,  Peg?  I  would  be  the  laughing-stock 
of  the  townJ 

Peg 

[  Winces.  ] 

Is  that  the  penalty  you  pay  for  seeking  my 
society  ? 

Sir  Charles 
[Takes  a  drink.] 

It's  fashionable  to  run  after  actresses, — I  like 
cards  better  myself — but  must  be  fashionable. 
You  most  fashionable  actress  in  town.  Hence 
must  run  after  you.  That's  excellent  wine, 
Peg.  Not  fashionable  to  marry  actresses. 

Peg 

At  last  I  am  to  hear  the  truth,  am  I  ? 
[114] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

Egad,  always  tell  the  truth,  Peg — and  nobody 
will  believe  you.  Excellent  rule.  I  tell  you 
what  I'll  do.  I'll  settle  an  annuity  on  you, 
Peg — five  hundred  pounds  a  year  and  damme, 
that's  generous. 

[Peg  endeavors  to  pick  up  the  letters  which 
he  had  laid  beside  the  arm  of  his  chair,  but 
with  a  drunkard's  cunning  he  is  too  quick 
for  her  and  puts  them  in  his  side  pocket.} 

Sir  Charles 

Sly,  eh,  Peggy?    Sly?    Too  old  a  dog,  Peg.    I'm 
too  old  a  dog.     No,  we'll  read  'em  to  Master 
Davy  when  he  comes  home.     Egad,  I  hope  I 
shan't  laugh  when  I  see  his  face. 
[Peg  is  getting  very  nervous  and  almost  des 
perate.     She  goes  to  window  and  peers  up 
the  street.     Then  returns  and  stands  irreso 
lute  a  second,  watching  Sir  Charles  drinking 
still  another  glass  of  wine.     She  goes  up 
stage   and   returns  with    another   decanter 
which  she  sets  before  him.} 

Peg 

An  annuity,  I  think  you  said  ? 

[Pours  him  out  a  glass  from  the  new  de 
canter.} 

[til] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

Five  hundred  pounds — that's  it. 

[She  comes  close  to  him  and  he  fingers  the 

miniature  hanging  by  a  chain  around  her 

neck.] 
Devilish  pretty  miniature,  Peg! 

Peg 

[Shudders  and  tries  to  make  him  release  the 

miniature.'] 
Will  you  give  me  your  opinion  of  this  brandy  ? 

Sir  Charles 

[He  releases  the  miniature.] 
Brandy?    Let  me  have  it. 

[She   hands   him    the   glass.      He   sniffs   the 

bouquet  and  spills  a  little.] 
You   sly   puss!      It's   the   money   caught   you — 

damme,   money  always   catches   'em.     An'   I 

waste  time  making  love! 

[Tries  to  catch  her  around  the  waist  but  she 

eludes  him.] 
I'll  see  my  lawyer  about  it  in  mornin',  'pon  honor. 

Five   hundreds    pounds — all    yours — give   me 

another  glass. 

Peg 
[Pours  him  a  glass.] 

[116] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


You   really  thought   I   was   in  earnest  when   I 
refused  you? 
[He  nods  his  head  solemnly.] 

Fie,    Sir   Charles — and   you   pretend   to  under 
stand  women ! 

Sir  Charles 

It's  mistake — I  don't — nobody  does.  It's  money — 
[Nods  and  falls  asleep.  She  watches  him  a 
moment  and  as  he  begins  to  snore,  tiptoes 
up  and  carefully  removes  the  letters  from 
his  pocket,  where  he  had  put  them.  With 
a  quick  movement  she  darts  across  the  stage 
and  places  them  in  the  fire.  She  makes 
certain  that  they  blaze  up  and  when  the 
flicker  of  the  flames  has  died  away,  she 
returns  to  where  Sir  Charles  is  sitting. 
She  shakes  him,,  but  it  has  no  effect.  She 
goes  then  to  the  dressing  table  up-stage  and 
returns  with  a  bottle  of  sal  volatile.  She 
sprinkles  it  vigorously  full  in  his  face. 
With  a  start  and  a  suppressed  exclamation 
he  wakes  up  and  staggers  to  his  feet.] 

Sir  Charles 
What  the  devil ! 

[Sneezes   violently   several   times,   while   Peg 

plies  the  smelling  salts.] 
Damme — what's  the  matter? 
[117] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[Sneeze.] 
Where  am  I  ? 

[Sneeze.] 

Peg 

[Putting  the  bottle  down.] 
The  Irish  girl  was  too  much  for  ye  that  time,  me 

fine  gentleman.     The  letters  are  burnt — and 

now  I  won't  be  keeping  you  any  longer,  Sir 

Charles! 

[He  searches  his  pockets  and  the  table  hastily. 
The  sal  volatile  has  sobered  him.] 

Peg 
I  hope  you  like  the  flavor  of  my  smelling  salts ! 

Sir  Charles 

[Advances  threateningly.] 
Give  me  back  the  letters! 

[He  seizes  her  roughly  in  his  arms,  while  she 
struggles  with  him.  His  wig  comes  off  in 
the  tussle.] 

Peg 

[Fighting  him  off.] 
The  letters  are  in  the  fire!     Now  go!     Or  I 

summon  the  household! 

[The  front  door  is  heard  to  slam.     Peg  starts 
and  in  an  agony  of  fear  shoves  Sir  Charles 
toward  the  door  R.] 
[118] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

There's  a  way  out  through  the  passage  at  the 
other  side.  If  he  finds  you  here  I  swear  he 
will  kill  you ! 

Sir  Charles 

[Draws  his  sword  coolly.] 
'Faith,  killing  is  a  game  two  can  play  at. 

[He  tests  his  blade  and  strikes  an  attitude. 
Peg  rushes  across  the  room  and  locks  the 
door  into  the  hall.] 

Not  so  eager  for  the  slaughter  as  you  were? 
[The    door   is   tried    and   rattled.      Garrick's 

voice  is  heard.] 
Open,  Peggy,  open!    Are  you  asleep,  my  love? 

Sir  Charles 

Shall  I  trouble  you  to  unlock  that  door,  or  shall 
I  do  it  myself? 
[Takes  a  step  toward  it.] 

Peg 
Oh — go — go ! 

[Garrick's  voice.] 
Within  there !    Peggy !    Open — it's  David ! 

Sir  Charles 

The  next  time  he  calls,  I'll  answer  for  you. 
[119] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[Clinging  to  him.] 

If  you'll  only  go — I'll   promise   anything — any 
thing  ! 

Sir  Charles 

I've  given  too  many  of  them  myself  to  value 

them  much. 

[Takes  the  miniature  and  chain  off  her  neck — 

reads  inscription  on  back.] 
"To  lovely  Peggy  from  David,"  that  will  do.     If 

you  come  to  claim  this,  it  shall  be  yours.     If 

you  don't  I'll  tell  your  David  that  you  gave  it 

to  me! 

[Garrick's  voice  off.} 
Open! 

[He  knocks  loudly.} 

Sir  Charles 
[Bows.] 
To  our  future  meeting ! 

[He   slips   through   the   door   R.    and  Peggy 

turns  the  key  after  him.] 
[Garrick's  voice.] 
Hodgson ! — Pompey ! 

[Peg  goes  to  door  L.,  and  opens  it,  yawning 
in  Garrick's  face  as  he  rushes  in  followed 
by  Pompey  and  Hodgson  in  strange  night 
attire.} 

[120J 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

Oh,  'tis  you,  David!    You're  very  late. 

Garrick 

Late!  Egad,  I've  been  halloing  and  knocking 
these  ten  minutes.  Gabriel  himself  could  not 
have  made  more  noise. 

Peg 

I  must  have  been  asleep.     I  heard  nothing  until 
this  moment  when  you  called  out  to  the  ser 
vants,  didn't  you? 
[Yawns.] 

Garrick 

[To  Pompey  and  Hodgson.] 
Well,  what  do  you  stand  gaping  at?     You  may 
go,  both  of  you. 
[They  go  out  and  Garrick  closes  the  door.] 

Peg 

The  wine  must  have  made  me  sleepy.  Did  you 
finish  your  business  at  the  Bedford? 

Garrick 

[His  eyes  taking  in  the  room.] 
Aye.     It  was  soon  finished. — Peg,   I  thought  I 
heard  voices  in  this  room  while  I  was  outside. 
[121] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

Voices?  Perhaps  I  talked  in  my  sleep,  Davy. 
I  was  sitting  here  before  the  fire  and  it  was 
dull  waiting  for  you.  I  was  a  bit  drowsy. 

Garrick 

[Stopping  by  the  decanters.] 
You've  been  drinking  brandy,  Peg? 

Peg 

Yes,  I  felt  a  little  chilly  after  you  went.  There's 
nothing  like  brandy  for  the  stomach,  Davy. 

Garrick 
[Takes   out   his   handkerchief   and   measures 

the  liquid  remaining  in  the  decanter.] 
'Faith,  Peggy,  I  don't  wonder  you  were  drowsy. 
It  has  fallen  a  good  three  inches. 

Peg 

You  measure  the  wine? 

Garrick 

You  would  not  permit  the  servants  to  rob  you, 
I  suppose? 

Peg 
But  it  is  my  turn  to  pay  this  month ! 

Garrick 

All  the  more  reason  for  me  to  see  that  Hodgson 
or  Pompey  do  not  impose  upon  your  good 

[122] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


nature.  Three  inches  of  brandy  is  worth  two 
shillings — no,  'tis  a  half  crown.  At  that  rate 
a  guinea  is  soon  gone  to  the  devil. 

Peg 

Trust  you,  Davy,  for  making  it  go  further  than 
anyone  else ! 

[Garrick  walks  about  the  room  nervously, 
Peg  watching  him  anxiously.  As  he  does 
so,  he  stumbles  across  Sir  Charles'  wig 
which  lies  under  one  corner  of  the  table.] 

Garrick 

[Stooping  and  picking  up  the  wig.] 
What's  this? 

[Holds  it  up.] 
A  man's  wig ! 

[Examines  it  hastily.] 
It's  not  my  wig! 

Peg 
[Coolly.] 

No,  it  is  not ! 

Garrick 

[Getting  very  much  excited.] 
Oh,  madam,  I  have  found  you  out  at  last?     So 
there  has  been  another  lover  in  the  case! 
[Working  himself  into  a  passion.] 
[123] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


You've  made  a  fool  of  me  before  the  town! 
Your  intrigues  and  extravagances  are  the 
common  gossip  of  the  Bedford!  I  hear 
men  sneer  behind  my  back  when  I  come  into 
a  room.  And  now  you  dare  to  meet  your 
lovers  in  our  very  house!  That  was  why  the 
door  was  locked  on  my  return ! 

Peg 

[With  dangerous  calmness.] 
I  beg  of  you,  Mr.  Garrick,  not  to  make  of  your 
self  so  great  a  fool !     Please  give  me  my  wig 
back  again. 

Garrick 

What!  Madam,  do  you  glory  in  your  infidelity? 
Do  you  own  the  wig  then  ? 

Peg 

Yes,  to  be  sure  I  do.  I'm  sure  it  was  my  money 
paid  for  it,  and  I  hope  it  will  repay  me  with 
money  and  reputation,  too. 

Garrick 

[Taken  aback  at  her  coolness.] 
Madam,  what  do  you  mean?     Explain  yourself, 
if  you  can. 

Peg 

When  you  are  in  a  more  sensible  frame  of  mind 
I  will  give  you  an  explanation,  not  before. 
[124] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Garrick 

Zounds,  madam,  do  not  torture  me  in  this  way! 
I  demand — nay,  I  entreat  you  will  explain  the 
presence  of  this  strange  wig  in  our  apartment  ? 

Peg 

Why,  if  you  thus  choose  to  desert  your  character 
as  a  man  and  insist  upon  prying  into  all  my 
business,  know  that  it  is  a  new  wig  which  I 
ordered  for  my  part  of  Sir  Harry  Wildair — 
and  since  you  chose  to  leave  me  to  myself 
this  evening — I  have  been  rehearsing  in  it 
before  going  to  bed.  I  was  careless  enough  to 
leave  it  in  your  way — but  is  that  a  reason  to 
scold  and  plague  me  as  if  I  were  a  common — 

Garrick 

But  the  door,  madam !  How  do  you  explain  the 
fact  that  it  was  locked  upon  my  return? 

Peg 

Because  I  do  not  wish  to  remain  alone  in  the 
house  without  some  protection. 

Garrick 

[Dropping  on  one  knee.} 

It  was  wrong  of  me  to  doubt  you.     I've  been  so 
tormented  by  my  jealousy  of   you!     Every 
where    I    turn    our    enemies    and    detractors 
spread  lies  and  scandal — 
[125] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

If  you  listen  to  them  instead  of  me! 
Garrick 

Nay,  Peggy,  I'll  never  give  them  another 
thought!  I  swear  it!  I  will  believe  you  and 
only  you !  Say  that  you  love  me ! 

Peg 

I  will  not  say  it  again  until  you  have  given  me 
proof  of  one  thing.  Do  you  love  me,  David? 

Garrick 

My  dearest,  how  can  you  ask?  Have  I  not 
proved  it  again  and  again  ? 

Peg 

There  is  one  final  proof  that  you  must  give  me 
at  once.  David,  you  must  make  an  honest 
woman  of  me.  There  must  be  no  more  delay, 
or  I  won't  answer  for  the  consequences ! 

Garrick 
Peg! 

Peg 

I  mean  it,  David.  You  must  give  me  your 
promise  tonight,  once  for  all! 

Garrick 

But  I  have  given  it  to  you !  Did  I  not  announce 
it  to  all  our  friends? 

[126] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Peg 

I  want  to  know  when  it  is  to  be. 

Garrick 

Then,  on  my  honor,  it  shall  be  as  soon  as  we  can 
have  the  banns  read!  I'll  have  them  posted 
tomorrow. 

Peg 
David ! 

[He  puts  his  arm  around  her  waist  and  they 

sit  before  the  fire  together.] 
And  you'll  marry  the  Irish  beggar  girl  ? 

Garrick 

Yes — and,  Peggy,  we  will  buy  ourselves  an 
estate  in  the  country — say,  up  the  river  some 
where, — and  live  monarchs  of  all  we  survey! 
We'll  laugh  at  the  town — aye,  and  at  the  critics 
too!  Nothing  shall  disturb  our  arcadian  bliss. 

Peg 

I  shall  keep  fowls,  David.  I've  always  wanted 
to. 

Garrick 

Excellent!  And  I,  let  me  think — ah,  yes,  I  will 
build  a  little  temple  to  Shakespeare  in  the 
garden  and  we  will  sit  in  it  on  summer  even 
ings  and  play  Romeo  and  Juliet  to  the  moon. 
[A  short  pause,  Garrick  looks  at  Peg's  neck.] 
[127] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Let  me  have  the  miniature  you  wear,  about  your 
neck,  Peg.  I'll  have  a  jewel  added  to  it  to 
mark  this  night. 

Peg 

[Changing  color.] 
Not  that,  Davy !     It  must  be  something  new ! 

Garrick 

Nay,  I  am  determined.  At  least,  let  me  see  it 
and  show  you  where  I  mean  to  place  it. 

Peg 

I  took  it  off, — it  is  locked  up  with  my  jewels. 

Garrick 
But  you  were  wearing  it  before  I  left. 

Peg 

I  know,  but  I  locked  my  jewels  away  for  the 

night. 

Garrick 
Strange — here  is  a  diamond  pin,   and  here's  a 

chain  of  pearls  about  your  neck ! 

Peg 

I  am  sleepy,  David!  Would  you  plague  me  for 
a  trinket  tonight? 

Garrick 

Nay,  give  me  your  key  and  I  will  fetch  it  out 
for  you. 

[128] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

I  have  forgotten  where  I  put  the  key.     On  the 
mantelpiece  perhaps. 

Garrick 

[A   look   of  suspicion  growing   again   in  his 

face.] 
On  the  mantel  you  said? 

Peg 
Or  in  my  room. 

[He  goes  to  the  door  of  her  room  and  tries  it. 
It  is  locked.] 

Garrick 
How's  this,  madam?    Your  room  locked  too? 

Peg 

Of  course.    The  back  stairs  lead  into  the  passage 
beyond,  and  I  was  afraid,  David,  all  alone. 
[Garrick    unlocks    the    door    and    opens    it 
quickly.     As  he  does  so  a  sheet  of  paper 
pinned  to  the  other  side  of  the  door,  flutters 
to  the  floor.     Peg  sees  it  and  springs  to  her 
feet  with  a  little  cry,  then  recovers  herself 
quickly  and  stands  watching   Garrick  with 
panting   bosom.     Deliberately  he  picks  the 
paper  up  and  reads  it.] 
[129] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 
[Reading.] 

"To  Master  Davy  Garrick:  Should  you  wish  to 
reclaim  a  certain  miniature  belonging  to  Mrs. 
Woffington,  the  undersigned  will  deliver  it  to 
you.  I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  your  humble, 

Hanbury  Williams." 

[A  look  of  rage  and  jealousy  comes  into  Gar- 
rick's  face.     Peg  is  very  pale.] 

Garrick 
So,  madam,  you  have  lied  to  me ! 

Peg 
Yes. 

Garrick 
It  was  his  wig? 

Peg 
Yes. 

Garrick 

Pish!  Macklin  was  right.  As  well  expect  con 
stancy  in  a — 

Peg 

Stop!  David,  if  you  refuse  to  listen  to  me  now 
you  will  repent  it  all  your  life ! 

Garrick 

Listen  to  you?  I  shall  repent  all  my  life  that  I 
ever  did ! 

[130] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Then  from  this  very  hour  we  separate!  Had 
you  been  worthy  to  hear  the  truth,  I  would 
have  told  it  to  you,  but  it  is  ended  for  ever! 
To  think  that  I,  Peg  Woffington,  still  believed 
in  honor  and  love! 
[Laughs  unpleasantly.] 

You've  opened  my  eyes,  Mr.  Garrick!  Here 
was  I,  taken  in  by  your  vows  like  any  school 
girl, — and  all  the  while  I  was  nothing  to  you 
but  what  you  could  find  in  any  green  room. 
And  I  believed  in  it  all !  Good  God,  I  believed 
it! 

Garrick 

Madam,  have  you  the  effrontery  to  deny  your 
guilt  in  the  face  of  this  proof  ? 

Peg 

No!  I  admit  it!  I  am  guilty!  I  made  an  ap 
pointment  here  tonight  with  Sir  Charles — we 
planned  it  well,  didn't  we?  I  knew  you  were 
going  to  the  Bedford — Sir  Charles  overheard 
you  arrange  to  meet  your  friends  there, — the 
hour  was  fixed.  I  meant  to  dupe  you,  trick 
you,  gull  you,  make  a  fool  of  you!  I  wanted 
the  town  to  say  that  Peg  Woffington  had  made 
a  fool  of  David  Garrick — to  hear  them  roll 
it  over  on  their  tongues  as  they  sipped  their 
chocolate, — to  see  them  shrug  their  shoulders 
[131] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


and  raise  their  eyebrows  when  you  passed, — 
ah,  you  didn't  know  all  this,  did  you?     And 
you  thought  I  cared!     I've  been  playing  with 
you,  as  I've  played  with  dozens  of  others — 
[Garrick  turns  on  his  heel  and  strides  out  of 

the  room  without  a  ivord.     The  front  door 

is  heard  to  slam.] 

Peg 

David !    David !    It  isn't  true !    I  love  you ! 
[She  collapses  in  a  heap  on  the  floor.] 


QUICK  CURTAIN 


[132J 


ACT  III 

SCENE:  The  stage,  Covent  Garden.  Some 
months  later.  The  stage  is  seen  from  the 
audience  as  if  one  were  standing  in  the  wings. 
That  is  to  say  one  is  looking  at  it  from  the  side. 
The  entire  right  to  a  little  beyond  left-center 
is  taken  up  with  this  reproduction  of  the 
Covent  Garden  stage.  The  candle  footlights 
are  also  seen  and  the  stage  itself  is  lighted  by 
many  candles  in  a  chandelier  which  hangs 
from  the  flies.  On  the  left  are  the  benches  of 
the  pit  and  one  stage  box  also  faces  the  real 
audience. 

The  stage  is  set  for  the  last  act  of  As  You  Like 
It,  and  the  benches  in  the  pit  are  thronged  with 
a  motley  crowd.  All  through  the  action  on 
the  miniature  stage  the  audience  in  the  pit 
must  sustain  their  part  in  the  picture. 
At  the  rise  of  the  real  curtain,  the  curtain  on 
the  miniature  stage  is  down  and  the  applause 
from  the  pit,  which  is  heard  the  moment 
before,  dies  away.  The  "play"  audience  rise 
and  conversation  among  them  becomes  general 
as  they  pass  among  themselves.  Ladies  in 
extravagant  costumes  can  be  seen  in  the  stage 
box.  On  the  miniature  stage,  the  scene- 
shifters  are  putting  everything  in  order.  John 
Rich  is  directing  them. 
[133] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Rich 

[Tapping  with  a  heavy  stick.] 
Blockhead!  Prop  up  the  oak  tree!  Would  you 
have  the  Forest  of  Arden  come  tumbling  about 
our  ears  ? — Zounds,  fellow !  Don't  make  such 
an  infernal  row  with  your  hammering! — The 
wing  at  the  first  entrance  on  the  O.  P.  side  is 
too  far  forward.  Shift  it  back!  Ready  for 
the  fifth  act,  William  ? 

[A  general  murmur  in  the  affirmative  as  the 
scene-shifters  go  off.  Sir  Charles  comes 
from  among  the  audience  in  the  pit  and 
climbs  on  to  the  miniature  stage,  passing 
behind  the  curtain.] 

Sir  Charles 

You've  a  large  audience,  tonight,  Rich. 
Rich 

The  first  in  weeks.  Muster  Garrick  is  not  play 
ing  at  Drury  Lane  tonight. 

Sir  Charles 

He's  his  own  manager  and  only  acts  when  it 
suits  his  vanity.  We  made  a  mistake,  Rich, 
when  we  rejected  his  services. 

Rich 

Aye,  but  who  could  foresee  that  the  town  would 
go  mad  over  him  ?    And  now  I  have  to  follow 
[134] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


the     fashions    he     sets — or    play    to    empty 
benches ! 

Sir  Charles 

You  are  giving  us  a  devilish  bad  performance 
tonight. 

Rich 

I  know!  You  can't  get  the  effects  in  Shakes 
peare  that  you  can  with  a  good  pantomime. 
But  the  town  wants  Shakespeare  because 
Muster  Garrick  has  made  him  fashionable,  so 
I  let  'em  have  it.  They  flock  to  Drury  Lane 
fast  enough  to  see  Hamlet  and  Lear,  so  I  puts 
'em  on  As  You  Like  It  to  counteract  the  other 
house.  And  it  hasn't  paid,  Sir  Charles,  it 
hasn't  paid ! 

Sir  Charles 

1  do  not  wonder  at  it.  The  Woffington  is  acting 
very  badly  this  week. 

Rich 

The  stubborn  jade!  Ah,  Sir  Charles,  the  trials 
of  us  managers !  She  complains  of  being  ill ! 
She  refused  to  go  on  at  all  tonight  at  first.  I 
told  her  I  was  too  old  a  hand  to  accept  that 
excuse.  "You  go  on  tonight  as  Rosalind," 
says  I,  "or  I'll  fine  you  a  week's  salary  and 
give  the  new  play  to  Bellamy."  I  heard  no 
more  about  illness  after  that,  but  she's  playing 
[135] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


damned  bad  to  spite  me.  She's  never  been 
the  same  actress  since  Muster  Garrick  would 
have  nothing  more  to  do  with  her. 

Sir  Charles 

Turn  her  off,  that's  the  best  way  to  deal  with 
women.  They'll  come  back  whining  then. 

Rich 

I  dare  not!     I've  not  another  soul  in  my  com 
pany  can  draw  the  town  at  all. 
[Tate  Wilkinson,  looking  as  poor  and  miser 
able  as  ever,  wanders  in  from  behind  the 
scene  on  the  right.} 

Sir  Charles 
There's  the  Wilkinson  lad ! 

Rich 

Aye,  he's  still  pestering  me  to  give  him  a  theatri 
cal  engagement.  Lord!  how  the  fellow  lives 
is  more  than  I  can  see. 

Sir  Charles 

[Addressing  Wilkinson.} 
Ah,  Wilkinson! 

Wilkinson 
[Coming  forward} 
Yes,  sir? 

[136] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 
What  are  you  doing  here,  eh  ?    Answer  me  that ! 

Wilkinson 

I — I  am  hoping  to  secure  a  position,  sir. 
Rich 

I've  told  ye  a  thousand  times  that  ye  needn't 
hope  for  anything  here.    I  won't  have  you ! 

Wilkinson 
[Sadly.] 

I  know,  sir.     But  something  might  turn  up, — if 
another  actor  were  taken  ill,  for  example? 

Rich 

I'd   as   soon  put  on  one  of   my   scene-shifters. 
Didn't  ye  disgrace  my  theatre  once? 

Wilkinson 
Nevertheless,  I  think  I'll  stay. 

Sir  Charles 

[Suddenly  bursting  into  laughter.] 
By  Jove,  I  believe  the  fellow  is  in  love ! 

Rich 

You're  a  wag,  Sir  Charles!     The  boy's  a  poor 
penniless  devil. 

[137] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 
[Still  laughing.] 

I'll  wager  you,  Rich,  he's  in  love  with  the  Wof- 
fington. 

Wilkinson 

[Suddenly  flaring  up.] 

Well,  sir,  and  if  I  am  ?  I  am  not  ashamed  to  own 
it.  My  love,  at  least,  can  never  harm  her. 

Rich 

Why,  you  fool,  the  woman  hates  and  scorns  you ! 
If  it  had  not  been  for  her,  I  would  have  given 
you  something  to  do  long  ago,  if  only  to  be 
rid  of  your  mournful  moping.  But  Mrs.  Wof- 
fington  will  not  have  you  in  the  theatre. 

Wilkinson 

I — I  offended  her  once — without  intention — and 
she  will  not  forgive  me.  It  is  not  her  fault — I 
— I  lack  the  courage  to  explain  to  her, — and 
I  love  her  for  it  all  the  more. 

Sir  Charles 
Damme,  an  odd  fish,  Rich ! 

[A  noise  of  chattering  and  laughter  is  heard 
off  right.  Enter  Peg  Woffington,  in  doublet 
and  hose,  costumed  as  Rosalind  in  the  Forest 
of  Arden.  A  swarm  of  gallants  and  ad 
mirers  follow  at  her  heels.  Her  gaiety 
[138] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


sounds  forced  and  unnatural.  Rich  and  Sir 
Charles  go  up  stage.  Wilkinson  slinks  into 
the  shadow  of  one  of  the  wings  and  stands 
watching  her  with  hungry  eyes.} 

First  Gallant 

[Offering  a  jeweled  brooch.] 
Queen  of  my  heart,   will  you   still   refuse  this 
trinket? 

Peg 

[With  a  mock  Irish  brogue] 
Get  along  with  yez, — palaverin'  at  a  poor  girl  like 
me. 

[First   gallant   falls    back    discomfited.      The 
others  laugh.] 

Second  Gallant 
[Offering  flowers.} 

Will  you  teach  me  to  make  love  as  you  teach 
Orlando  ? 

Peg 

Monsieur  Le  Beau,  I  take  no  pupils  unless  they 
have  had  some  experience! 
[Renewed  laughter  by  the  others] 

Third  Gallant 
[Offering  verses.} 

Read  these  verses,  divinity !    I  would  hang  them 
on  an  oak  tree,  only  there  is  none  in  London. 
[139] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Keep  them  and  read  them  to  me  seven  years 
hence.  That  advice  is  from  another  poet — 
Horace. 

[Sir  Charles  comes  down  stage  to  her  and 
bows  with  a  flourish.  Peg  recoils  and  then 
recovers  herself.  The  other  gallants  go  up 
stage,  with  bows,  leaving  them  alone.] 

Peg 

Do  you  have  the  presumption  to  address  me,  sir  ? 

Sir  Charles 
[Taking  snuff.] 
Pardon  me,  I  was  not  aware  that  I  spoke  first ! 

Peg 

No  matter.    Your  presence  is  an  insult. 

Sir  Charles 

It  is  mere  common  politeness,  I  assure  you.  I 
came  to  congratulate  you  upon  getting  rid  of 
your  play-actor  admirer,  Master  Davy.  'Faith, 
Peg,  I  laugh  to  think  how  you  packed  him  off 
to  Drury  Lane  by  himself.  It  was  clever  of 
you,  Peg, — infernally  clever! 

Peg 

Mr.  Garrick  has  always  been  free  to  make  his 
own  plans. 

[140] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

And  now  that  he  has  made  his  exit, — I  hope  it 
was  a  graceful  one,  Peg? — allow  me  to  return 
this  keepsake  which  you  once  bestowed,  re 
luctantly  I'll  admit,  upon  me. 
[He  offers  her  the  miniature  and  chain  which 
he  took  from  her  in  the  last  act.] 

Peg 

You  have  carried  your  pleasantry  far  enough. 

Sir  Charles 

Good!  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  you  call  it  that! 
And  now  that  you  have  seen  the  truth  at  last, 
permit  me  to  make  amends  for  the  past. 

Peg 
What  do  you  mean? 

Sir  Charles 

Why,  look  you,  Peg,  when  I  heard  of  Mr.  Gar- 
rick's  dismissal  from  your  favor,  I  altered  my 
plans.  I've  bought  a  little  villa  in  the  country, 
— in  a  quiet  spot, — it's  in  a  veritable  Forest  of 
Arden,  Peggy, — and  there  we  may  live  like 
some  shepher4  and  shepherdess,  eh? 

Peg 

Am  I  to  understand  that  you  are  serious  ? 
[141] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

For  once,  I  am !  I  offer  you  devotion — peace — 
and  everything  that  money  can  buy  besides. 
You  cannot  live  without  a  protector.  And 
with  Garrick  out  of  the  way,  who  else  but  me  ? 

Peg 

[With  a  frigid  manner.] 
Sir,  you  are  vastly  mistaken  in  your  ideas. 
[Turns  her  back  on  him  and  walks  away.] 

Sir  Charles 

Hark'ee,  Peg,  not  so  fast!  I  came  prepared  for 
this  too !  I  shall  not  endure  any  more  trifling 
from  you. 

Peg 

[Turns,  angry.] 
Do  you  dare  to  threaten  me? 

Sir  Charles 

It  is  not  a  threat.  But  if  you  are  unreasonable, 
I  have  a  remedy  for  that. 

Peg 

Well,  sir,  I  choose  to  be  unreasonable,  as  you 
call  it.  Pray  have  you  any  further  business 
with  me? 

Sir  Charles 

Yes.     If  you  reject  this  proposal,   I  fear  very 
[142] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


much  that  you  will  find  the  last  act  of  As  You 
Like  It  tonight  very  far  from  being  as  you 
like  it.  The  pit  and  galleries  are  filled  with  my 
men,  —  which,  by  the  way,  accounts  for  friend 
Rich's  full  house.  Either  you  consent  to 
listen  favorably  to  me,  or  the  famous  Mrs. 
Woffington  will  be  publicly  disgraced  and 
hissed  off  the  stage  of  Covent  Garden! 

Peg 

[Her  eyes  blazing.] 

If  you  venture  to  interrupt  my  acting  with  your 
hired  bullies,  the  town  will  stone  you  to  death  ! 
I  have  more  friends  than  you  think  ! 

Sir  Charles 
We  will  see  !    You  refuse  to  consent  ? 


I  have  already  answered  you. 

Sir  Charles 
As  you  wish. 

[Turns  to  Rich,  up  stage.] 
Rich  !    Rich  !    One  moment,  if  you  please. 

Rich 

[Comes  down  stage  obsequiously.] 
Your  servant,  Sir  Charles  ! 
[143] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


Sir  Charles 

Rich,  I  have  made  a  certain  proposal  to  Mrs. 
Woffington  which  she  has  seen  fit  to  reject. 
I  regret  that  this  circumstance  compels  me  to 
have  her  hissed  off  the  stage  tonight.  But  I 
must  teach  her  pride  a  lesson. 

Rich 

[Whimpering  with  anxiety.] 
For  God's  sake,  Sir  Charles,  I'll  be  ruined ! 

Sir  Charles 

Then  use  you  influence  with  the  lady. 
[Walks  coolly  up  stage.] 

Rich 

[Imploring  Peg.] 

Madam,  you've  heard  him!  You  must  pacify 
him  at  any  cost!  I'll  increase  your  salary, — 
I'll  do  anything!  With  Garrick  carrying  all 
before  him  at  Drury  Lane, — it  would  mean 
ruin  for  us  all,  if  you  were  hissed  here ! 

Peg 

[With  composure.] 

Pray,  do  not  be  uneasy,  Mr.  Rich.  Sir  Charles 
is  not  as  powerful  as  he  believes.  They  would 
not  dare  to  hiss  me !  I  never  disappointed  an 
audience  in  my  life !  Nor  have  I  ever  refused 
to  play  for  others'  benefits.  Did  you  not  hear 
the  applause  at  my  first  entrance  tonight? 
[144] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


What  reason  have  they  to  hiss  me?  I  do  not 
think  so  little  of  the  public's  gratitude  as  you 
do,  Mr.  Rich. 

Rich 

But  I  tell  you  Sir  Charles  may  do  anything !  He 
moulds  the  opinion  of  the  pit.  If  he  pro 
nounces  against  a  play,  nothing  can  save  it. 

Peg 

I  am  firm  in  my  refusal  to  conciliate  such  a  man 
in   any   way.      Trust   the   public   to   me,    I'll 
manage  them  better  than  Sir  Charles. 
[The   call-boy  shouts   the   summons  for   the 

fifth    act.      Sir    Charles   returns   from    up 

stage.  ] 

Sir  Charles 
Which  is  it  to  be,  Mrs.  Woffington,  war  or  peace? 

Peg 
War! 

Sir  Charles 
As  you  please. 

[Bows.] 

Rich 

Sir  Charles,  in  Heaven's  name  have  pity  on  me! 
It  means  thousands  of  pounds  to  me  and  I'm 
a  poor  man ! 

[145] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

It  means  more  than  that  to  me,  Mr.  Rich,  but  I 
am  not  afraid. 

Rich 
It's  utter  ruin  for  us  both!     Sir  Charles — 

Sir  Charles 
You  cringing  old  simpleton ! 

[He  walks  to  the  curtain,  pushes  it  to  one  side 
and  passes  into  the  pit,  where  way  is 
respectfully  made  for  him.  As  he  takes  his 
seat  he  passes  a  note  to  a  man  near  him  who 
goes  out  with  it,  left.  On  the  miniature 
stage,  the  gallants  gather  at  the  wings,  wait 
ing  for  the  act  to  begin.  An  actor  and 
actress  as  Touchstone  and  Audrey  respect 
ively,  take  their  places  ready  to  go  on  when 
the  curtain  rises.  Peg  stands  by  one  of  the 
wings  to  wait  for  her  cue.  Near  her  stands 
Wilkinson.] 

Wilkinson 

[Advancing  timidly.] 

Madam,  I  could  not  fail  to  overhear  what  just 
passed.    I  heard  Sir  Charles  threaten  you.     If 
any  service  I  could  render  you  would  prove 
acceptable,  pray  command  me! 
[146] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[She  is  nervous.] 

Sir,  the  only  service  you  can  render  me  is  to  take 
your  leave. 

Wilkinson 

Madam,  I  beg  of  you  to  listen  to  me  for  an 
instant !  You  are  mistaken  if  you  think  that  I 
ever  mocked  your  acting!  Believe  me  when  I 
say  that  I  entertain  for  you  nothing  but  feel 
ings  of  the  most  profound  respect  and  admira 
tion! 

Peg 

[Acknowledges  the  statement  coldly.] 
Your  frank  acknowledgment  of  your  error  does 

you  credit. 

[She  turns  her  back  on  him  and  he  drops  back 
crestfallen.  David  Garrick  enters  from  the 
right,  at  this  point.  He  comes  to  the 
center.] 

Peg 

[Starting  as  she  sees  Garrick.] 
David ! 

Garrick 
[Bowing.] 

Madam — I — I  wish  a  few  words  with  you,  if  I 
may  claim  the  honor? 

[147] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[Freezing  up  again.] 
Pray  proceed.    The  act  is  just  beginning. 

[The  miniature  curtain  rises  and  the  fifth  act 
of  As  You  Like  It  begins,  in  dumb  show, 
with  the  scene  between  Touchstone  and 
Audrey.  There  is  a  slight  ripple  of  ap 
plause  from  the  pit,  but  no  disturbance. 
They  are  waiting  for  Peg  Woffingtoris 
entrance.  The  character  of  William  in  As 
You  Like  It  enters,  and  stands  waiting  in 
the  wings  for  his  cue.  The  prompter,  who 
also  stands  in  the  wings,  is  seen  occasion 
ally  to  gesticulate  violently  at  the  characters 
on  the  miniature  stage.] 

Garrick 

I  regret  sincerely,  madam,  that  our  quarrel  has 
had  the  result  of  making  the  relations  between 
us  strained. 

Peg 

Surely  you  have  not  come  here  at  this  time  to 
tell  me  that ! 

Garrick 

On  the  contrary  it  is  the  sole  object  of  my  visit. 
But  I  feel,  in  spite  of  the  long  friendship 
which  once  existed  between  us,  that  some 
apology  for  my  presence  is  necessary. 

[148] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

You  need  give  yourself  no  further  concern.  The 
incident  to  which  you  refer  has  escaped  my 
memory. 

Garrick 
[Ironically.] 

I  rejoice  that  it  has  not  disturbed  you  in  any 
way. 

Peg 

Why  should  it?  Your  conduct  was  only  what 
was  to  be  expected  from  a  man.  Friendship, 
as  you  call  it,  between  a  man  and  a  woman  is 
only  another  name  for  indifference. 

Garrick 
You  have  no  regrets,  Peg,  none  ? 

Peg 

Is  that  a  fair  question?  I  have  already  informed 
you  that  the  episode  is  erased  from  my 
memory. 

Garrick 

It  is  more  than  I  had  dared  to  hope !  I  may  then 
discuss  with  you  the  matter  of  business  which 
brings  me  here  tonight? 

Peg 

Please  do  not  longer  delay  it,  as  I  expect  my  cue 
very  shortly. 

[149] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Garrick 

As  you  know,  my  managership  of  Drury  Lane 
Theatre  has  met  with  extraordinary  success. 
Not  only  have  I  established  beyond  question 
my  own  reputation  as  the  greatest  living  actor, 
but  I  have  become  even  more  famous  for  the 
restoration  of  Shakespeare  to  our  modern 
stage. 

Peg 
Sir,  if  you  desire  to. finish  before  my  cue — 

Garrick 

I  have  always  regretted  that  our  quarrel  pre 
vented  me  from  availing  myself  of  your  valu 
able  services  as  an  actress.  Now  that  has  been 
forgotten  I  conceived  it  would  not  be  indeli 
cate  for  you  to  enrol  yourself  in  my  company 
at  Drury  Lane.  You  would  be  at  liberty  to 
play  those  parts  in  which  you  are  most 
famous,  such  as  Sir  Harry  Wildair — 

Peg 

Mr.  Garrick,  this  is  the  second  offer  to  which  I 
have  listened  tonight.  The  first  one,  although 
of  a  different  character,  was  no  less  insulting 
than  yours — 

Garrick 
Insulting? 

[150] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

Surely,  if  you  had  any  spark  of  manhood  or 
decency  alive  in  you,  you  would  realize  the 
impossibility  of  what  you  suggest! 

Garrick 

Allow  me  to  remind  you  that  the  offer  is  simply 
a  business  one.  My  approaching  marriage 
with  Mademoiselle  Violette  prevents  me  from 
making  a  proposal  of  another  nature. 

Peg 

[Catching  hold  of  the  scenery  for  support.] 
Your  marriage? 

Garrick 
Yes.    The  affair  has  only  recently  been  arranged. 

Peg 

[Her  anger  blazing  out  suddenly.] 
And  yet  you  come  here  to  fling  your  insults  and 
your  marriage  in  my  face !  Of  all  the  despic 
able,  petty  creatures  on  God's  earth  there  is 
none  meaner  and  more  loathesome  than  you! 
The  only  excuse  which  you  have  is  that  your 
vanity  and  self-conceit  have  blinded  you  to 
everything  else.  Never  dare,  as  long  as  either 
of  us  shall  live,  to  address  another  word  to 
me  on  any  pretext  whatsoever !  I  have  heard 
enough  of  Mr.  David  Garrick  and  his  affairs! 
[151] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[As  she  finishes  the  above  speech,  she  dashes 
on  to  the  miniature  scene  to  take  her  cue. 
Garrick  stands  a  second  as  if  stunned  and 
then  slinks  away.] 

Peg 

[As  Rosalind — gaily.] 
"God  save  you,  brother." 

[At  these  words  Sir  Charles  rises  in  the  pit 
and  gives  a  signal.  Instantly  the  theatre  is 
in  an  uproar.  There  are  numerous  cries 
of  "Off!  Off!"  and  men  jump  upon  the 
benches.  Hoots,  hisses  and  catcalls  are 
heard  and  the  noise  is  deafening.  Peg 
stands  fearlessly,  trying  to  quell  the  turmoil. 
Rich  dashes  on  to  the  stage  and  is  greeted 
with  jeers.  Macklin  as  Jacques  and  Quin 
as  Duke  Senior,  also  appear  from  behind 
the  scenes  and  go  to  Peg's  assistance.  Wil 
kinson  places  himself  quietly  behind  her. 
Several  of  the  gallants,  who  have  been 
standing  in  the  wings,  draw  their  swords 
and  come  on  to  the  stage.  Renewed  hisses 
greet  their  appearance.  The  audience 
begin  to  tear  up  the  benches,  while  fights 
and  scuffles  are  numerous  in  the  pit.  Va 
rious  objects  are  thrown  on  the  stage  from 
the  galleries.  The  sound  of  broken  glass  is 
heard,  as  the  mob  smashes  the  mirrors 
around  the  walls.  Cries  of  "Fire  the 
[152] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


house!"  "Down  with  Woffington!"  "Off! 
Off!"  become  more  frequent  and  violent. 
The  mob,  led  by  Sir  Charles,  begin  to  climb 
upon  the  stage.  They  easily  beat  back  the 
gallants  with  sticks  and  cudgels.  Peg 
alone  stands  her  ground,  with  Wilkinson, 
who  does  not  desert  her.  Up  stage,  in  one 
corner,  there  is  some  sword  play  going  on. 
The  mob  surges  about  Peg.  Suddenly  her 
voice  is  heard  above  the  din.} 

Peg 

[Imperiously.] 

Back  to  your  benches!  Stop!  I'll  leave  the 
stage,  since  you  wish  it ! 

[An  ugly  shout.     They  fall  back  from  her  a 
little.} 

I'll  not  stay  to  be  a  mark  for  your  spite!  But 
I'm  not  afraid  of  you — no,  nor  of  ten  thou 
sand  devils — let  alone  such  curs  as  you — and 
you — and  you ! 

[Snaps  her  fingers  in  the  faces  of  those  nearest 

her.     They  fall  back  before  her.] 
Have  I  ever  disappointed  you? 

[A  shout.     Some  voices,  "No!"] 
You're  not  all  hired  ruffians,  I  see!    Have  I  not 

always   served  you?     Have   I   ever   failed  to 

appear  when  my  name  was  billed, — whether 

well  or  ill? 

[153] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[More  shouts  and  clamor.] 

Night  after  night  I've  played  for  you, — it  didn't 
matter  what  I  felt  here — 

[Touches  her  bosom.] 

I  made  you  laugh  just  the  same!  Is  this  your 
gratitude?  Is  this  the  way  you  reward  the 
public's  faithful  servant?  For  years  I've 
humored  your  whims  and  caprices  without 
a  murmur, — played  what  you  demanded  with 
out  a  question.  And  now  you  show  your 
courage — 

[Clamor.] 
your  bravery — 
[Uproar.] 

by  attacking  a  defenceless  woman!    What  do 
you  want  ? 

[Cries  of  "Off!  Off!"} 

What  would  you  have  me  do?  Do  you  know 
yourselves  ? 

[Renewed  cries  of  "Off!   Off!"  groans  and 
hoots.} 

So  be  it  then!  You  are  the  judges.  It  shall  be 
on  or  off,  just  as  you  please.  It  is  a  matter  of 
indifference  to  me ! 

[Cries  of  "Off!"  are  now  mingled  with  cries 
of  "On!"} 

[154] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


I'll  wait  patiently  for  you  to  settle  this  among 
yourselves.  I  wish  to  know  if  all  my  years  of 
work  for  you  are  to  meet  with  this  reward ! 

Sir  Charles 

[Addressing  the  mob.] 
Will  you  permit  the  Irish  jade  to  blarney  you? 

[Cries  of  "No!"] 
Then  it's  off,  off !  I  say ! 

[Cheers  and  shouts  and  renewed  fighting  in  the 
pit.} 

Peg 
[Pointing  at  Sir  Charles.] 

If  you  want  to  know  what  this  all  means — ask 
him !  There's  the  man  who  can  tell  you !  He 
talks  about  Irish  blarney, — but  I  appeal  to  you 
for  British  fair  play ! 

[Clamor  and  struggles} 

Because  I  resented  an  insult  at  his  hands  tonight, 
he  takes  this  revenge! 

Sir  Charles 

It's  a  lie !  Off !  Off !  The  woman's  a  brazen 
hussy ! 

Peg 

[Strides  up  to  Sir  Charles  and  strikes  him  in 
the  face.] 

[155] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Take  that  lie  back  again ! 

[A  wild  cheer  of  delight  at  this  and  shouts  of 
"Fair  play!"  Sir  Charles  trembling  with 
rage  lifts  his  fists  against  her,  but  Wilkin 
son  slips  by  quickly  and  suddenly  seizing 
him,  struggles  with  him  to  the  edge  of  the 
stage  where  he  throws  him  heavily  into  the 
pit.  Cheer  upon  cheer  follow  this  act. 
Cries  of  "Peg  Woffington!"  "Woffington 
forever!"  "On!  On!"  Others  fight  their 
way  to  the  front  and  attack  Sir  Charles  and 
his  party,  thrusting  them  back.  The  stage 
is  cleared  after  a  rough  and  tumble  tumult. 
Peg  Woffington  lays  one  hand  on  Wilkin 
son's  arm  and  he  stoops  and  reverently 
kisses  her  hand.] 

Peg 

[Raises  her  hand.  The  storm  ceases  as  if  by 
magic.] 

My  friends! 

[A  cheer  which  echoes  and  re-echoes.] 
Will  you  take  me  back? 

[Another  roar  of  approval.] 

Then  we'll  end   it  all  with  an  epilogue !     For 
'faith  I  think  you've  made  Jacques  so  melan 
choly  tonight  he'll  never  speak  again!  and  as 
for  Orlando,  I  dare  wager  he's  gone  home. 
[156] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


[Looks  around  at  the  empty  stage  behind  her. 
Wilkinson  once  more  stands  behind  the 
scenery  in  the  wings.] 

If  my  costume  does  not  fit  the  epilogue,  it  is 
because  you  gave  me  little  chance  to  change. 

[Laughter.] 
Will  you  listen  to  it  as  I  am? 

[The  applause  echoes  again.] 
That's  the  music  I  love  best ! 

Peg 

[Begins  at  this  point  the  epilogue  of  As  You 
Like  It.] 

It  is  not  the  fashion  to  see  the  lady  the  epilogue, 
but  it  is  no  more  unhandsome  than  to  see  the 
lord  the  prologue.  If  it  be  true  that  good  wine 
needs  no  bush,  'tis  true  that  a  good  play  needs 
no  epilogue ;  yet  to  good  wine  they  do  use  good 
bushes,  and  good  plays  prove  the  better  by  the 
help  of  good  epilogues.  What  a  case  am  I  in 
then,  that  am  neither  a  good  epilogue  nor  can 
not  insinuate  with  you  in  the  behalf  of  a  good 
play !  I  am  not  furnished  like  a  beggar,  there 
fore,  to  beg  will  not  become  me ;  my  way  is 
to  conjure  you,  and  I'll  begin  with  the  women. 
I  charge  you,  O  women,  for  the  love  you  bear 
to  men,  to  like  as  much  of  this  play  as  please 
you;  and  I  charge  you,  O  men,  for  the  love 
[157] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


you  bear  to  women, — as  I  perceive  by  your 
simpering  that  none  of  you  hates  them, — that 
between  you  and  the  women  the  play  may 
please.  If  I  were  a  woman  I  would  kiss  as 
many  of  you  as  had  beards  that  pleased  me — 

[She  begins  the  above  speech  briskly  but 
falters  several  times  as  it  progresses.  At 
the  last  words  quoted,  she  staggers  and  falls 
with  a  cry.  The  audience  in  the  pit  rise  in 
their  excitement.  Wilkinson  rushes  to  her, 
takes  her  up  in  his  arms  and  carries  her  to 
the  wings.  Bellamy  as  Celia,  Quin,  Mack- 
lin  and  Rich,  who  have  reappeared  from 
behind  the  scenes  right,  while  the  epilogue 
was  being  spoken,  now  crowd  around  her. 
The  miniature  curtain  is  hastily  lowered 
upon  a  gruff  order  from  Rich,  and  the  audi 
ence  in  the  pit  sit  in  awed  silence.] 

Wilkinson 

Stand  back — give  her  air!     Let  a  physician  be 

summoned ! 

[Bends  over  her  and  raises  her  head.} 
I  love  you,  Peggy! 

[The  others  look  at  one  another  in  astonish 
ment.} 

Peg 

[Opens  her  eyes  and  smiles  faintly  when  she 
sees  who  it  is  who  whispered  to  her.} 
[158] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


I  understand — I  understand !  I  too  have  known 
what  it  means  to  be  scorned  by  the  being  I 
loved !  Forgive  me ! 

[She  raises  herself  up  partly  with  Wilkinson's 
assistance.  He  kisses  her  hand  passion 
ately.] 

Peg 

Bellamy,  child! 

[Bellamy  goes  to  her  and  kneels  by  her  weep 
ing.] 

Bellamy 
I — I  am  sorry  for  all  the  past! 

Peg 

[Caressing  her.] 

And  I,  I  might  have  been  kinder  to  you,  child — 
but  there,  it's  over  now. 

Peg 

[To  the  others.] 

My  old  friends, — we've  acted  in  many  a  play 
together — and  now  I've  been  called  for  my  last 
epilogue — 

Macklin 

No,  no,  Peggy!     It's  only  a  passing  faintness — 
the  riot — the  excitement — 
[159] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Peg 

[Shakes  her  head.] 

Macklin — I  know — I've  only  the  tag  left  to 
speak.  There's  one  favor  I  want  to  ask — 
before  the  curtain  falls. 

Macklin 
What  is  it,  dear? 

Peg 
You'll  tell  him  how  it  happened,  won't  you? 

[Macklin  much  moved  turns  away  his  head.] 
I  want  him  to  know. 

[Macklin  wipes  his  eyes  and  Peg  seizes  his 
hand] 

Ah,  old  friend,  it  is  better  to  go  this  way — with 
the  last  echoes  of  the  applause  in  my  ears !  It 
is  better  than  ever  I  dared  hope! 

[She  sinks  back  in  Wilkinson's  arms  dead,  as 
Garrick  hurries  in  from  the  right.  They 
make  a  warning  gesture  at  him  and  he 
pauses  in  silence.  Quin  strides  before  the 
miniature  curtain  and  raises  his  hand  for 
silence  as  he  faces  the  pit.] 

Quin 
[Addressing  the  audience  in  the  pit.] 

Mrs.  Woffington  is  dead! 
[160] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


[Silently  as  if  awe-struck,  the  audience  file  out 
of  the  pit.  Wilkinson  holds  the  dead  body 
in  his  arms.  Garrick  kneels  at  her  feet.] 


SLOW  CURTAIN 


THE  END 


[161] 


NOTES  ON  ACT  I 

These  notes  are  intended  merely  to  indicate  the 
principal  sources  of  some  of  the  incidents  and  anec 
dotes  made  use  of  in  this  play.  Wherever  possible,  I 
have  chosen  a  historical  episode,  or  scrap  of  dialogue, 
in  preference  to  a  fictitious  one. 

October,  1741:  the  year  and  month  in  which  Garrick 
made  his  first  London  appearance  at  Goodman's 
Field's  Theatre.  This  was  also  the  year  of  Peg  Woff- 
ington's  first  metropolitan  success. — Covent  Garden 
Theatre:  built  by  John  Rich  in  1731.  —  The  Constant 
Couple:  a  comedy  by  George  Farquhar,  b.  1678,  d. 
1707.  First  acted  at  Drury  Lane  in  1699.  Peg  Woff- 
ington  played  the  part  of  Sir  Harry  Wildair,  the  lead 
ing  male  character  in  this  comedy,  for  the  first  time  in 
1740.  For  a  description  of  her  acting  in  this  part, 
see  Macklin,  p.  125.— James  Quin:  b.  1693,  d.  1766. 
An  actor  of  the  old  school  and  an  opponent  of  Garrick 
and  the  new,  or  naturalistic,  school  of  acting. — George 
Anne  Bellamy:  b.  circa  1731,  d.  1788.  She  was  only  ten 
years  old  at  the  time  this  play  opens,  but,  as  she  was 
a  rival  of  Mrs.  Woffington's  in  later  years,  it  has  been 
thought  permissible,  for  dramatic  purposes,  to  intro 
duce  her  as  a  well-known  actress  at  this  period.  Her 
memoirs  are  the  source  of  much  of  the  material  used 
in  this  play. — Quin's  acting:  see  Davies,  v.  1,  p.  28; 
Wilkinson,  v.  4,  p.  79;  J.  Gait,  v.  1,  p.  184  and  p.  197.— 
Quin's  character:  Wilkinson,  v.  1,  p.  186;  Murphy,  v. 
1,  p.  87. — An  impudent  Irish  faced  girl:  the  phrase 
was  used  by  Conway  in  a  letter  to  Horace  Walpole 
referring  to  Mrs.  Woffington.  (See  Horace  Walpole: 
Letters  to  Sir  Horace  Mann.)—  Robert  Wilks:  b.  1665? 
d.  1732.  Created  the  part  of  Sir  Harry  Wildair. 
Farquhar  attributed  the  success  of  his  play  to  Wilks' 
acting. — Mrs.  Woffington's  voice:  see  Wilkinson,  v.  1, 

[163] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


p.  25.  Also  referred  to  by  Bellamy,  Lewes,  and  Mack- 
lin  in  their  memoirs. — Quin's  grand  pause:  see  Davies, 
p.  106.  It  was  really  Macklin  who  was  most  famous 
for  a  "grand  pause,"  and  it  was  he  who  once  knocked 
a  prompter  down  for  interrupting  it. — Sir  Charles 
H anbury  Williams:  b.  1709,  d.  1759.  Famous  for  his 
wit  and  gallantries.  He  wrote  numerous  verses  to 
Peg  Woffington.  These  poems  are  printed  in  his  com 
plete  works. — The  Bedford  Coffee  House:  a  famous 
meeting  place  for  the  critics,  wits,  and  literary  men  of 
the  day.  It  stood  in  Covent  Garden. — Quin's  advice: 
see  J.  Gait,  v.  1,  p.  194.— John  Rich:  b.  1692,  d.  1761. 
He  was  the  first  manager  to  introduce  pantomime  into 
England  and  was  a  noted  Harlequin.  He  was  respon 
sible  for  Mrs.  Woffington's  London  debut.  See  Wil 
kinson  for  many  amusing  anecdotes  of  Rich. — Thomas 
Betterton:  b.  1635?  d.  1710.  The  famous  actor  of  the 
Restoration. — Rich  as  Richard  III.:  Rich,  who  was  an 
uneducated  man  with  a  raucous  voice,  was  particularly 
fond  of  boasting  of  his  ability  in  this  part. — Rich  and 
his  quarrels  with  his  actors:  see  Davies,  v.  1,  p.  135. — 
Ipswich:  Garrick  made  his  first  appearance  on  any 
stage  in  this  town  during  the  summer  of  1741. — Gar- 
rick's  rejection  by  Rich:  see  Murphy,  v.  1,  p.  20;  Bio. 
Dram.,  v.  1,  p.  261. — Garrick  and  his  three  quarts  of 
vinegar:  this  epigram  on  the  calling  followed  by  Gar 
rick  before  he  became  an  actor  was  made  by  Foote. — 
Quin's  gruffness:  see  Wilkinson,  v.  1,  p.  33;  Bellamy, 
v.  1,  p.  62.— "The  Orphan":  by  Thomas  Otway,  b.  1651, 
d.  1685.  First  acted  1680.  Monimia  was  the  chief 
female  character.  Her  woes  have  made  the  part  pro 
verbial  as  a  type  of  suffering  innocence.  This  play 
was  much  admired  by  Dr.  Johnson. — Rich's  treatment 
of  manuscripts:  see  J.  Gait,  v.  1,  p.  193;  Molloy's  L.  of 
W.,  v.  1,  p.  76. — Bellamy's  rivalry  of  Mrs.  Woffington: 
see  the  memoirs  of  Bellamy,  Macklin,  and  Wilkinson 

[164]" 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


for  details  of  these  greenroom  squabbles. — The  de 
scription  of  Mrs.  Woffington:  see  Wilkinson,  v.  1,  pp. 
120-121;  J.  Gait,  v.  1,  p.  221.— Cox's  Museum:  a  favor 
ite  resort  where  mechanical  wonders  were  exhibited. 
References  to  this  museum  occur  in  Fanny  Biirney's 
"Evelina"  and  Sheridan's  "The  Rivals." — An  orange 
woman:  this  reference  is  to  an  episode  in  Mrs  Woffing- 
ton's  early  life  when  she  sold  oranges  in  the  streets 
of  Dublin.  Foote  burlesqued  her  at  the  Haymarket  as 
an  orange  woman  to  a  playhouse. — Tate  Wilkinson: 
b.  1739,  d.  1803.  His  own  memoirs  contain  the  best 
account  of  his  life.  His  application  to  Rich  for  a  posi 
tion  on  the  stage,  and  Mrs.  Woffington's  scorn  of  him, 
for  a  real  or  imagined  slight,  are  most  graphically  told 
in  the  pages  of  his  reminiscences.  It  will  be  noted  that 
his  introduction  is  another  anticipation  of  historical 
chronology.— Charles  Macklin:  b.  1697?  d.  1797.  His 
memoirs,  by  Cooke,  are  an  interesting  but  somewhat 
unreliable  biography.  Lewes'  memoirs  contain  descrip 
tions  of  his  person  and  manners.  I  have  modified  the 
harshness  of  his  character  in  order  to  contrast  him 
with  Quin.  He  and  Quin  were  rivals  and  once  quar 
reled  bitterly,  although  in  public  they  maintained  an 
armed  neutrality  toward  one  another.  The  anecdote 
of  posterity  and  the  condemnation  of  Macklin's  play 
is  from  J.  Gait,  v.  1,  p.  l99.—Quin's  retort  to  W 'offing- 
ton:  this  piece  of  repartee  appears,  with  variations,  in 
nearly  all  the  theatrical  memoirs  of  the  period. — Gar- 
rick's  first  meeting  with  Peg  Woffiington:  the  exact 
date  is  uncertain,  but  it  is  probable  that  he  first  became 
acquainted  with  her  at  the  beginning  of,  or  just  before, 
the  season  of  1741-42.  In  the  summer  of  1742  he  jour 
neyed  to  Dublin  with  her,  where  they  played  at  Smock 
Alley  Theatre  until  time  to  return  for  the  opening  of 
the  London  season.  (See  Davies  and  Murphy  and  the 
contemporary  memoirs.) — Oroonoko:  by  Thomas 

[165] 


LOVELY    PEGGY 


Southerne,  b.  1660,  d.  1746.  A  dramatization  of  Mrs. 
Aphra  Behn's  novel,  "The  History  of  Oroonoko."  The 
play  was  first  acted  in  1696.  The  part  of  Aboan,  a 
slave,  is  a  secondary  one,  but  offers  a  good  opportu 
nity  to  the  actor. — The  Rival  Queens:  by  Nathaniel 
Lee,  b.  1653?  d.  1692.  The  play  was  first  acted  in 
1677. — Lothario:  the  principal  male  character  in 
Nicholas  Rowe's  (b.  1673,  d.  1718)  "The  Fair  Peni 
tent."  The  character  is  that  of  a  libertine  and  seducer. 
The  play  was  first  acted  in  1703.— The  inserted 
speeches:  these  are  altered,  for  the  purposes  of  this 
scene,  from  "The  Rival  Queens,"  v.  1.  Statira  and 
Roxana  were  the  names  of  the  two  rival  queens  con 
tending  for  Alexander's  hand.— Macklin's  encourage 
ment  of  Garrick's  acting:  see  Macklin,  p.  97. — Good 
man's  Field's  Theatre:  built  in  1729  and  pulled  down 
in  1746.  Giffard  was  manager  of  it— The  verses  to 
Mrs.  Woffington:  these  appear  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine,  entitled  "To  Sylvia,"  and  were  signed  D.  G. 
They  have  also  been  ascribed  to  Sir  Charles  Hanbury 
Williams.  Prof.  George  Pierce  Baker,  of  Harvard, 
has  reprinted  them  in  his  "Some  Unpublished  Corre 
spondence  of  David  Garrick."  The  latter  version  has 
an  additional  stanza  not  found  in  the  other  copies.— 
Pity's  akin  to  love:  a  quotation  from  Southerne's 
"Oroonoko." — Garrick's  opinion  of  Mrs.  Woffington's 
Sir  Harry  Wildair:  see  Button  Cook,  v.  1,  ch.  xii  — 
The  Recruiting  Officer:  Farquhar's  most  successful 
comedy.  It  was  first  acted  at  Drury  Lane  in  1706. 
The  part  of  Sylvia  is  the  principal  female  character. 


[166] 


NOTES  ON  ACT  II 

Domestic  arrangements  in  Southampton  Street:  see 
Macklin,  p.  118;  Knight,  pp.  54  and  57.— The  Daily  Post 
and  The  Champion:  these  quotations  are  from  criti 
cisms  of  Garrick's  first  London  appearance  as  Richard 
III.  The  notice  in  the  Champion  was  written  by 
Fielding. — A  dozen  dukes:  Knight,  p.  42. — Garrick's 
acting  and  its  effect  upon  the  stage:  among  innumer 
able  references  to  this,  see  particularly  Lewes,  v.  2, 
p.  110;  Horace  Walpole,  Letter  to  Sir  Horace  Mann, 
May  26,  1742,  and  Murphy  and  Davies,  Garrick's 
biographers. — The  ring  episode:  Murphy,  v.  1,  p.  17. — 
Garrick's  avarice:  the  defenders  of  Garrick's  character 
maintain  that  his  reputation  for  avarice  is  undeserved. 
They  assure  us  that,  like  the  mythical  Scot,  Garrick 
was  merely  careful  with  his  money.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  tradition  of  his  parsimony  is  so  often  re 
peated  that  I  have  not  hesitated  to  make  dramatic  use 
of  the  legend.  See  also  Davies,  v.  2,  pp.  394-5 ;  Murphy, 
v.  2,  p.  194;  Macklin,  p.  144;  Boswell,  v.  2,  pp.  270-1; 
ibid.,  v.  2,  p.  412;  ibid.,  v.  3,  pp.  48-9.— The  diamond 
shoe  buckles:  Macklin,  p.  121. — Not  for  an  age:  Mol- 
loy's  L.  of  W.,  v.  1,  p.  135. — Johnson's  opinion  of  Gar- 
rick:  Boswell,  v.  3,  p.  98;  ibid.,  v.  2,  p.  215;  ibid.,  v.  2, 
p.  118;  ibid.,  v.  1,  p.  264;  ibid.,  v.  1,  p.  422;  ibid.,  v.  2, 
.p.  152;  ibid.,  v.  2,  p.  356;  ibid.,  v.  2,  p.  446;  ibid.,  v.  3, 
p.  268;  ibid.,  v.  2,  p.  256;  ibid.,  v.  1,  p.  394.— Twopence 
halfpenny  in  your  pocket:  Knight,  p.  13;  Boswell,  v.  1, 
p.  54. — Johnson  gives  Garrick  a  lesson  in  acting:  Bos 
well,  v.  1,  p.  103. — Johnson  in  the  greenroom:  Boswell, 
v.  1,  p.  125. — Garrick  and  Johnson's  tragedy  "Irene": 
Boswell,  v.  1,  p.  121;  Davies,  v.  1,  p.  11;  Murphy,  p. 
207. — Where  the  devil  are  your  actors:  Macklin,  p. 
100. — Johnson's  opinion  of  actors:  Boswell,  v.  2,  p. 
356;  ibid.,  v.  2,  p.  172. — Garrick's  epigram  on  John- 

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LOVELY    PEGGY 


son's  Dictionary:  Boswell,  v.  1,  p.  197.  The  dictionary 
was  not  published  until  1755,  hence  neither  the  work 
nor  the  epigram  was  in  existence  at  this  time. — Gar- 
rick's  conversation:  Murphy,  pp.  197-8. — Macklin  on 
critics:  Macklin,  p.  74;  ibid.,  p.  139. — Garrick's  epigram 
on  Quin:  Murphy,  v.  1,  pp.  31-2. — Roscius:  the  name 
was  given  to  Garrick  in  Dublin  while  playing  the 
summer  engagement  there  with  Mrs.  Woffington  in 
1741.  See  Murphy,  v.  1,  p.  39. — Johnson  drinks  tea 
with  Garrick  and  Mrs.  Woffington:  Boswell,  v.  2,  p. 
413.— The  song  "Lovely  Peggy":  this  song  was  in 
cluded  in  the  complete  works  of  Hanbury  Williams, 
published  in  1822.  It  has  also  been  ascribed  to  Garrick, 
particularly  by  Macklin,  p.  116,  and  Joseph  Knight, 
who  reprints  it  entire  in  his  Life  of  Garrick,  p.  54. — 
A  Man  of  the  Last  Century:  this  was  Macklin's  favor 
ite  description  of  himself. — The  wild  Irishman:  an 
epithet  often  applied  to  Macklin.  See  Macklin,  p.  5. — 
The  beautiful  V.:  Mademoiselle  Violette  whom  Gar 
rick  afterwards  married. — The  guinea  that  went  to  the 
devil:  it  was  Foote  who  made  this  retort  to  Garrick. 
See  Molloy's  L.  of  W.,  v.  1,  p.  211.— The  episode  of  the 
wig:  see  Macklin,  p.  116. — The  quarrel  between  Gar 
rick  and  Mrs.  Woffington:  see  Macklin,  p.  119;  Wilkin 
son,  v.  1,  p.  33;  Knight,  p.  87ff.— Garrick's  character: 
Dibdin,  v.  5.  p.  102;  Lewes,  v.  2,  p.  104.— Garrick's  love 
of  fame:  Murphy,  v.  2,  p.  196. 


[168] 


NOTES  ON  ACT  III. 

Garrick's  success  at  Drury  Lane:  Davies,  v.  1,  p.  111. 
— Garrick  restores  Shakespeare  to  the  stage:  Davies, 
v.  1,  p.  120. — Young  gallants  in  the  wings:  one  of  the 
theatrical  nuisances  of  the  day  was  the  presence  of 
these  worthies  behind  the  scenes  and  even  on  the  stage 
itself.  Contemporary  memoirs  are  full  of  references 
to  the  annoyance  occasioned  to  both  actors  and 
audiences  by  this  custom. — Garrick's  marriage:  an 
extraordinary  but  wholly  untrustworthy  account  of 
this  is  to  be  found  in  Lewes,  v.  2,  p.  66.  His  wife  was 
a  Viennese  dancer,  Mademoiselle  Violette. — Theatre 
riots:  Mrs.  Woffington  once  quelled  a  riot  of  a  similar 
nature  while  playing  in  Dublin.  See  J.  Gait,  v.  1,  pp. 
187-190. — Mrs.  Woffington's  collapse:  see  Wilkinson,  v. 
1,  p.  117. 


For  contemporary  biographical  sketches  of  Mrs. 
Woffington,  see  Lewes,  Davies,  and  Macklin.  John 
Hoole,  b.  1727,  d.  1803,  wrote  a  Monody  on  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Woffington.  Of  her  power  as  an  actress 
Macklin,  Murphy,  Dibdin  and  Wilkinson  all  have 
much  to  say.  In  addition,  Charles  Reade  in  his  novel 
Peg  Woffington,  pp.  10-11,  has  characterized  her  charm 
and  beauty  in  words  which  are  almost  a  paraphrase 
of  Macklin's. 


[169] 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

SOURCES  OF  LOVELY  PEGGY. 

The  Life  and  Adventures  of  Peg  Woffington, 
by  Fitzgerald  Molloy  in  2  vols.  London,  1884. 

Peg  Woffington,  a  Novel,  by  Charles  Reade. 
London,  1895. 

Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  David  Garrick,  Esq.,  by 
Thomas  Davies,  2  vols.  London,  1781. 

Life  of  David  Garrick,  by  Arthur  Murphy,  2 
vols.  London,  1801. 

David  Garrick,  by  Joseph  Knight,  F.  S.  A. 
London,  1894. 

Garrick  and  His  Circle,  by  Mrs.  Clement  Par 
sons.  London,  1906. 

The  Lives  of  the  Players,  by  John  Gait,  2  vols. 
London,  1831. 

Some  Unpublished  Correspondence  of  David 
Garrick,  edited  by  George  Pierce  Baker. 
Boston,  1907. 

Memoirs  of  His  Own  Life,  by  Tate  Wilkinson, 
4  vols.  York,  1790. 

Memoirs  of  Charles  Macklin,  Comedian,  by 
William  Cooke,  Esq.  London,  1806. 

Memoires  de  Mistriss  Bellamy,  traduit  par  M. 
Thiers.  Paris,  1822. 

Memoirs  of  Charles  Lee  Lewes,  written  by  him 
self,  4  vols.     London,  1805. 
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The  Life  of  Samuel  Johnson,  by  James  Boswell : 
Edited  by  Arnold  Glover,  with  an  introduction 
by  Austin  Dobson,  3  vols.  London,  1901. 

The  Life  and  Times  of  Oliver  Goldsmith,  by 
John  Forster,  2  vols.  London,  1877. 

Some  Account  of  the  English  Stage,  by  Genest. 

A  New  History  of  the  English  Stage,  by  Percy 
Fitzgerald.  London,  1882. 

The  Romance  of  the  English  Stage,  by  Percy 
Fitzgerald.  London,  1874. 

Annals  of  the  English  Stage,  by  John  Doran,  2 
vols.  London,  1865. 

In  and  about  Drury  Lane,  by  Dr.  John  Doran, 
2  vols.  London,  1881. 

The  History  of  the  Irish  Stage,  by  Hitchcock. 

The  Romance  of  the  Irish  Stage,  by  J.  Fitzgerald 
Molloy.  London,  1897. 

The  London  Stage,  by  H.  Barton  Baker.  Lon 
don,  1889. 

Nichol's  Literary  Anecdotes  (for  anecdotes  of 
Gar  rick  and  Woffington). 

Representative  Actors,  by  W.  Clark  Russell. 
London,  1872. 

Hours  with  the  Players,  by  Dutton  Cook. 

Actors  and  Actresses  of  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States,  by  Brander  Matthew  and  Law 
rence  Hutton,  New  York,  1886.  (The  vol 
ume  entitled:  Garrick  and  his  Contempora 
ries.) 

[172] 


LOVELY   PEGGY 


English  Actors,  by   H.   Barton   Baker,   2   vols. 

New  York,  1879. 
Letters   of   Horace   Walpole,    9   vols.     London, 

1877.     (A  few  selections  only.) 
Horace  Walpole,  A  Memoir,  by  Austin  Dobson. 

New  York,  1892. 

Eighteenth  Century  Vignettes,  by  Austin  Dob- 
son.    New  York,  1892. 
Evelina,  by  Frances  Burney. 
A  Complete  History  of  the  English  Stage,  by 

Charles  Dibdin  (1745-1814),  5  vols.    London, 

1800. 
Sir  Charles  Hanbury  Williams'  Works,  3  vols. 

London,   1822. 

Biographia  Dramatica  (1747-66).  London,  1812. 
The  Dictionary  of  National  Biography. 
Masks  and  Faces,  a  comedy,  by  Charles  Reade 

and  Tom  Taylor. 

The  Constant  Couple,  by  Farquhar. 
The  Recruiting  Officer,  by  Farquhar. 
The  Fair  Penitent,  by  Rowe. 
Alexander  the  Great,  by  Southerne. 
Oroonoko,  by  Southerne. 

The  references  to  page  and  volume  given  in 
the  notes  refer  to  the  above  editions. 


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